CROWD DISAPPOINTED BY FIRE IN THE SQUARE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19240, 29 November 1930, Page 10

CROWD DISAPPOINTED BY FIRE IN THE SQUARE.

A somnolent city roused itself round about nine o’clock last evening when two fire engines shot through the streets, shrieking their warning to •traffic, followed by a third engine with the extension ladder. Traffic came to a dead stop as the noisy procession passed, and scores of children raced along after, to be in at the fun. With a flourish the engines drew up near a picture theatre in Cathedral Square, and in a twinkling a crowd numbering hundreds had collected, with eager sightseers streaming across from every quarter of the Square. Two firemen leaped from an engine with a fire extinguisher, and taking three steps at a time, -went up a couple of flights of stairs, all the while the crowd becoming denser and denser. Then came the anti-climax, however, for one silent engine, with its brasshelmeted crew, pulled away and headed back in the direction of the station, followed by the engined ladder. Smoke issuing from a second floor window gave evidence of the seat of the fire, but the sight of a bare head at the window calmly gazing out over the crowd with a look of wonderment betokened that there was not the big blaze that would have been expected from the imposing turn-out by the brigade. The news eventually filtered out that the cause of the commotion was only a chimney ablaze in an office, but even then the crowds did not disperse, hanging on hopeful that something ’ more would come of it. They were disappointed. All the same, it was a fine turn-out by the brigade, which was on the scene in a matter of minutes after the alarm had been given. *