STORE GUTTED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22475, 9 January 1943, Page 4

STORE GUTTED

Large Quantity Of Salt Destroyed (N.Z.P.A.) AUCKLAND. Jan. 8. Fire damaged more than 2000 bales of straw, and about 40,0001 b of fine table salt, when one of . Parnell’s oldest buildings, a wooden stable and store used by Ernest and Herbert Craig, Limited, was practically destroyed this morning. The building is believed to be about 80 years old. The fire was discovered when an employee, about to arrange the unloading of a truck of straw', saw the fire gaining a hold in the rear corner of the building. Four horses in the stable were led out safely. Trucks kept in the stable had been taken out for work much earlier in the morning. The flames quickly gained a hold on the old dry timber of the walls and roof of the building, which had a concrete floor. As the fire progressed the front part of the roof fell in and the front parapet fell into the building. Part of the wall fell into the street, but did not tangle with the overhead wires. Thick smoke from the straw held up the firemen and embers lodged between the stacks and walls, but nevertheless, they soon had the fire under control. The building which was insured with the Southern Union Office,? was reduced to a valueless wreck. Until a survey is made the amount, of damage cannot be estimated.