FIRE AT TE AWAMUTU.

Waipa Post, Volume I, Issue 46, 22 September 1911, Page 2

FIRE AT TE AWAMUTU.

What might have been a very disastrous fire occurred at Te Awamutu on Tuesday evening, when the store and adjoining buildings owned by Mr G. M. A. Ahier were in imminent danger of being destroyed. About 10.15 p.m. the first alarm was given, and it was soon seen that a large store room within a few feet of the main building owned and occupied by Mr Ahier was well alight. The alarm spread very • quickly, and in a comparatively short time a number of willing workers were on the spot. A bucket brigade was soon formed, and a considerable quantity of water was poured on to the fire. This, however, was not sufficient to stay its progress, and within a few minutes the budding duced to ashes. The building was used as a store room, and at the time of the fire contained a considerable quantity of produce and ironmongery, the greater part of which was destroyed. Several cases of kerosene and benzine were removed, but for which there can be no question that the fire must most certainly have spread, as • the present arrangements afforded no possible opportunity of coping with a fire of greater proportions. The fire originated in a stable adjoining the store room, but the actual cause of the outbreak is not . known. Mr Ahier is a consider- *m able loser. The goods destroyed ~" were covered by a policy over the whole of the stock, and so far the amount t:> cov:-r the destroyed portion is unknown.