Fire Engines Requisitioned.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 12003, 22 October 1906, Page 5

Fire Engines Requisitioned.

No Accidents, but Several

Escapes,

Later. The fire was apparently smouldering for some time before it was discovered. A strong northerly "Wind fanned the flames, and when the water gave out it appeared as if the result would be even more disastrous than it was eventually. Two steam fire engines were got to work, and threw large volumes of sea water into the burning buildings, but for a time they made little impression. After the destruction of the two old tenements occupied by the auctioneers and Roche, the fire swept through the brick edifice- used as a private hotel, known as the Trocadero, then on to a number of wooden buildings, iucluding the Commercial Hotel. When these caught, the wind carried the flames across the street, and on to the triangle bounded by Grey and Featherston Streets and Lambton Quay. The only building left intact is the new four-storey brick building erected by Young and Tripe, solicitors. This building did not escape altogether, but the damage is believed to be slight. Whitcombe and Tombs' fine emporium was next to follow those on the western side of the Quay, and only the walls remain. Thence the fire worked into the magnificent new building recently erected by the Bank of New South Wales, which was completely gutted. With the destruction of that building and the Union Bank's premises opposite, ' the fire was well in hand, and there was ho danger of it spreading further. In nddition to the places already telegraphed, the premises of P. Levi, optician, were destroyed. The occupants of the Trocadero and Commercial Hotels had to leave hurriedly, though some were fortunate enough to save most of their effects. So far as is known, there have been no accidents of serious moment, though there were many narrow escapes. The fir© was prevented from spreading north by the brick premises of Batkin, tobacconist.