WELLINGTON BLAZE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 95, 24 April 1940, Page 6

WELLINGTON BLAZE

LARGE BUILDING ON FIRE TAILORING FIRM'S LOSS [ Ter Press Association. J WELLINGTON, April 23. Much damage was done to Summers’ Building in Cable Street by fire early to-day. The top floor, occupied by Schneideman and Sons, manufacturing tailors, as a workroom, was gutted. Severe damage was done to Turnbull and Jones’ workshop on part of the floor below. Other sections * of the building suffered from water. When the alarm was received at 2.35 the glow could be seen from the Central Station and a brigade call was issued. The fire was attacked on all sides. So strong had been the hold before the alarm was given that a large part of the roof fell in and part of the top floor gave way under heavy pressing machinery, but well inside an hour there was no sign of flame. Extensive use was made of tarpaulins to cover stock from water. Some leads were taken through Austin House and a good deal of water escaped here, most of it lying in the furniture storeroom of Kenners, Ltd. Schneidemans lost heavily through loss of machinery and hundreds of patterns described as irreplaceable. A member of the firm said the fire would also have a serious effect on the carrying out of orders for military uniforms. A great deal of the fire was concentrated on the part of the middle floor occupied by Turnbull and Jones, on to which the floor above gave way. The ground floor was occupied by Fabers’ Furnishing Company, Ltd., and A. G. Healing and Co., cycle and motor importers. The building was owned by Mr. E. A. Summers, Christchurch. Schneidemans had been tenants since the first part was erected in 1923.