A fire which may have started in cooking vats caused over $5,000 worth of damage to Malo’s fish shop in Lord Street on Friday afternoon. Only the prompt action of the fire brigade prevented the fire spreading to adjoining shops and upstairs residences.

The alarm was raised at 2.50pm by fireman Geoff Dick, who saw the blaze while driving along Lord Street. The brigade arrived within minutes to find the whole shop alight, with Bruce Bennie desperately trying to contain the fire with a garden hose.

Acting quickly, the firemen soon had the blaze under control within half an hour of the fire being sighted.

The fire charred the inside of the shop and burnt through the ceiling into the residence above. Expensive cooking vats were wrecked completely by the heat and the air ventilation system was destroyed.

Shop owners Mr and Mrs Malo Begaud were attending the anti-TB chest X-ray unit in Horton Street when the fire broke out.  They arrived back 40 minutes later to find their shop burnt out.

Mr Begaud told the News yesterday, the damage was partly covered by insurance, and he should be able to replace his cooking vats and re-open his business “in the near future”.

It was an unfortunate blow to a new business venture which has been exceedingly popular.

Women bowlers happy despite rough weather

Cold, gusty winds and some drizzle, did not deter the 192 women bowlers who graced Port Macquarie Bowling Club’s three greens yesterday for the 14th annual carnival.

The greens will be fully used by the women again today, and tomorrow. Despite the weather, a very warm and hearty welcome was extended to the women’s state president, Esme Dries, and to the visitors from 41 different clubs here for the carnival.

Building starts Monday

Work will begin on the foundations for the new Roman Catholic High School in Bay Street next Monday. The builders R.J. Burg of Taree, will be on the site tomorrow to prepare for pile driving. The school, which will serve the Hastings Valley, should be ready for occupation at the start of next year. The $115,000 construction will involve the erection of six classrooms, a science room, a library, shelter area, canteen, staff area and amenities. The price will also include filling and levelling off the playing field. The school, designed by James Toomey of Sydney, will be brick with steel frames, flat roof and aluminium windows.

Motel association disbanding

Port Macquarie Motels Association is preparing to disband. A move has been made to have the Hastings Tourist Authority take over the care and maintenance of the road signs erected by the association. This move, the association believes, will ensure its members are free to contribute to the Tourist Authority as individual motels.