FIRE IN CITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17170, 13 October 1923, Page 9

FIRE IN CITY.

OUTBREAK IN VICTORIA STREET. CAFF. GUTTED. A fix© that broke out in the Union Cafe, 17, Victoria Street, about 4 p.m. to-day, did a good deal of damage. The building is an old threestorey wooden one, wedged into a row of shops. It is a rambling building, with narrow staircases and narrow passages. The fire evidently began in the kitchen on the ground floor, probably by a spark from the st-ove falling on tho mattress of a sofa. The flames went up th© kitchen walls, taking scrim and paper, and took a hold of the floor of the second storey, which was charred. Several bedrooms on that storey and their contents were damaged by the flames. Tho tea-rooms and shop, in the front part of the ground floor, were damaged only slightly. No damage was done to the top storey, used as a storeroom. The Fir© Brigade arrived promptly after th© alarm was given, just in time to save the building from destruction. and to prevent the fire from spreading to any of the adjoining places, all occupied as shops. Tie cafe is conducted by Mrs Bell, and Mrs Hammond. Nobody was on the premises when the fire was. discovered, and as it was closed, th© firemen had to break open the door to get in. The building is owned by Air H. Stiles, St Albans Street. Mr C. Millar’s tobacconists shop, which is x»art of the building, was not damaged, except for a little w r atcr on the floor. The brigade’s operations held up the tram traffic for a time.