BIG CITY BLAZE.

Wairarapa Age, 31 October 1924, Page 5

BIG CITY BLAZE.

WELLINGTON SHOPS. DAMAGED. FLAMES FANNED BY GALE. A serious fire broke out in Wellington at a quarter to one yesterday morning, in the premises of Messrs Harold Brown and Co., wine and spirit merchants, in Lambton Quay, opposite the Midland Hotel, and spread with great rapidity, fanned by a northerly J gale. 4 For some time,lt appeared that the *iiydrants, playing from Woodward street and Lambton Quay, had the blaze in check, but presently there ip.s a crash of falling glass and rafters, and flames burst through into Lamb ton Quay, lighting up the facade of the Midland Hotel It was seen that there was little hope of saving the corner block of buildings, which, .with their contents, would be valued at £30,000. “ The buildings to the north were by row also endangered. The main block adjoining the burning buildings on that side was occupied by the Wairarapa Farmers * Co-operative Company and the Government Statistician. Mr Harold Brown occupies thewhole of the three top stories of the building, and possibly there was £lO,OOO worth of wine, tobacco and cigarettes in stock. He thought his insurances were between £6OOO and £7OOO, in the Royal Exchange. The • building belonged to the Jacob Joseph Aestate. ~ Mr George Ardrey. of the Civil Service Shoe Shop, which is on the ground floro, had just moved in that day, and his stock of footwear was uninsured. z

The back of the ground floor of the building was occupied by the White House luncheon and tea rooms.