FLOOD OF WATER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 90, 16 April 1929, Page 7

FLOOD OF WATER

BROKEN SPRINKLER PIPE AUCKLAND STORE DAMAGED £ Special “Chronicle” Servrce ] AUCKLAND, April 15. With an ominous roar shortly after 10 o’clock this morning a flood of water came through a broken joint in th© fire-sprinkler system on the fourth floor of the Queen Street establishment of John Court, Ltd., and caused damage which is estimated at about £5OO. Some of tho young lady attendants were drenched and at least one had to be relieved of work for the day. When the break occurred without warning the noise of the rushing water could be heard several floors below. “Look out! Water is comingP’ shouted some of the older employees with memories of a similar occurrence seven or eight years ago. From the fourth floor the water rapidly found its way to the third floor and in a. minor degree to tho second. The damage to stock, however, was confined to the two first mentioned floors. The scene bn the fourth floor was alarming. The attendants were caught by the deluge as they were setting out stock for the day. With commendable attention to duty their first thoughts were to get tho goods out of range of the water, which came in fan-like formation and very soon was ankle deep around the counters in the department, which contained a full stock of underwear and millinery flowers. Clutching at the contents of the fixtures and counters the attendants carried them away by the armful and in a trice the appearance of the workers was such as it might have been had they braved a spout bath at Whakarewarowa in full attire. Aleanwhilp a similar scene was being enacted on the floor immediately below, though there the volume of falling water was by no means as great. Stock in the danger zone consisted of jumpers and cardigans. As in the case of the goods above they comprised new season’s stock, which makes the loss all the greater. By the time the water got through to the second floor the stock and furnishings had been moved from the danzer zone. Within eight or ton minutes the worst of the trouble was over and soon afterwards the flow from the broken pipe had been reduced to the merest trickle. However, the stock presented a sorry spectacle and some of the attendants were in a condition which would have prevented their appearance in Queen Street. The manager of the firm said that tho sprinkler system had been in operation for about 15 years and only once had a break previously ocurred. Ho added that although the damage could not. be estimated at the moment he felt sure the actual stock had suffered to the extent of not less than £5OO.