GRYMOUTH BLAZE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10307, 17 January 1927, Page 5

GRYMOUTH BLAZE

BIG DRAPERY STORE DESTROYED

damage to stock oyer £IO,OOO. GREYMOUTH, Jan. 15. The most disastrous lire which has taken place in Greymouth for a considerable time occurred at 8.50 o’clock last night, resulting in the total destruction of the Mawhera Quay pre„iises of McGruer’s Ltd, with stocks estimated to be worth £IO,OOO to £12,000. The fire appeared to have commenced in the rear of the upstairs portion of the premises, and by the time the brigade were on the scene it was obvious that the building arid contents were doomed. So great was the hold which the fiames°had established in a few minutes that had it not been for a high brick and concrete wall which surrounded the building tile fire must have spread to the adjoining premises. Ashby, Berg Ltd., Harker’s tea rooms, aiul the National Bank. Owing to the direction of the wind (south-west) the premises occupied in Merita Street by James and Yor•warth. motor cycle dealers, were, in danger and actually caught in the p portion of the building. As it was. all the damage sustained by the adjoining buildings were broken skylights in’Ashb.v, Bergh’s premises and ~r the National Bank, and a small .amount of damage by water in the latter premises. ttH'LT IN SUCTION PIPE OF W ENGINE. When the brigade got its Dennis engine to work there was an ample supply of water and a satisfactory pressure. Owing to a fault developing in the suction pipe, it was about 15 minutes before the Dennis engine commenced ' operations. Meantime leads had been taken off the hydrants in the front of Kettle Bros., and Kim Williams’ premises, and from another plug in Mackay street. It was seen by 9.30 o’clock that the brigade was getting flic fire in hand, and threequarters of an hour later the outbreak was practically quelled.

HOOF FALLS WITH FIREMEN UNDERNEATH. There was considerable excitement at 9.30 o’clock, when the roof of the budding came crashing; down. As there were a number of liremen in the building there was considerable consternation until they were all ac-, counted for. Most of them ran quickly cut of the doors, but when a tally was taken it was found that Foreman J. Kennedy was still in me building. All fears were shortly abated, however, as he called out lie was all right. When the alarm was given that the roof was falling, a number of the men inside the building took refuge underneath the counters, and so were safe. Fireman "White sustained a bad cut ofi his hand from a piece of glass, otherwise all the firemen got out without injury. The fire did its work completely, for all that remains this morning of what yesterday was one of the largest and most up-to-date shops on the West Coast, is the charred ruins. Air F. Thorpy, the manager, is absent at the convention of McGruer’s branch managers at Wanganui. The shop had just been freshly dressed out ana a quantity of new stock was opened up yesterday. The origin of the fire is unknown. Air Brooks, sub-manager for McGruer’s, stated that when he locked p at 5.39 everything was all right. AlcGruer's are insured in the Excess Office. London, but the amounts are unavailable owing to the absence of the manager at Wanganui. The Ashby Bergh stock was insured for £I4OO in the Atlas office, and is also insured in other offices. The Antidfl£>l Bank’s insurance also is with tile Atlas office.—P.A.