Two Previous Fires-An Unlucky Blook.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 123, 2 June 1885, Page 2

Two Previous Fires-An Unlucky Blook.

Bloofe. "*"»-,; Thoro appears to be a sinenk. »„» ~, t *:ccu...*;d. It ha. na.rov.ly c--.„n rf l fira occasion v,*c believe .hot "_«. . 1* ,e'lch curred in the same shop. On t^ 0* site whero Dare's shop stood. Mrs W-ff 08 the present owner, was burned out .fci years ago, when she kept a B ro__?'. *l 7 there. On that occasion. the^'uf? was swept away as far as a public hi, lock the Nelson street comer. Jgf&S?"" took the place of thoeo dee oy»d „d n l,? B April of last year these!,, turn _sSS_&_ 1 U the fiery element. The fire the.fif,o--in a shop occupied by Mr Gadd f.,,t. Nt Tins building was totally d^tr'eSd^ others woro also burned out, _a_t Mesers Somors, Slaney, Carr S^ Richardson Bros., and Johnson n"" 1* f";^ bloC Ti 0/tlvoetoried buift ■mis o-.-te,, Ihey were ocein.ed T occasion Mr Carr was a heavy loser h» • no insurance on his property. Profi-jn_.'i!e a bitter experience, however, he effect J 1 insurance on his new stock and furmW in consequence of which he is not now _ heavy lofer. ""«

The Damage.

The scene of the fire presented a mn.t dismal appearance this morninp K_Tt furniture still obstructed the road™! „°j it was really pitiable to see the damZ that had been sustained by many off! household treasures. However careful t£° salvage volunteers might have been them wero few articles that escaped ir.jarv in some shape or form Dare's building been completely reduced to ashes, «hii„ Brown's shop was represented by a oharr.d and useless framework Mettam's «_, also badly damaged by the fire. Slan.v. on tho other side had the wall roof, and front badly burnt, and tha front and roof of Somers's wero also in'owd The other places wero all somewhat alfeetS by the liro, and more or lees dama. e d _ ; wator. It is estimated that the daaasein j buildings alone would not be covered by

Statement- to Our Reporter.

Mr Drury, who resides on the northern side of the street, states that about ttrcatv minutes before 12 he observed flames issuing through a fanlight over the doorway in Messrs Dare's shop. He kicked at the door to alarm the inmates, and also roused un the occupants of tbe adjoining premises Nearly nil of thorn were asleep, and mat-. had to be carried out. Mr Drury carried Mrs Brown.andalsoherchild.tohisresidencethe mother having tainted through ttiW Mr Brown, who occupied the fish shop' says he was awakened by a kicking at the door,and opened it to ascertain thecauE..He discovered that Dare's place was on fire and that his own shop was rapidly filling '^j, smoke. His wife and child were got out with some difficulty, and had not time to dress Othor unfortunates were so confused that they could give no connected idea as to how they had left their dwellings, and one lady declared that she could not tell how she came to be dressed. Mrs Mettam was greatly alarmed for some time because h« children were missing, but she eventually learned they were safe in the care of neighbours. "

Whore the Fire Originated.

Mr Lewis Dare, in conversation with a reporter, stated that when he discovered the (Ire the smoke was coming : from the sitting-re om, lately occupied by Mr Whitelnw, who bad gSea - up possession on tho previons, night, Ho said the servant also said that sbßsaw* flames coming from Mr Whitelaw's .ittingroom, and that it was all in a blaze. He and his family is toped in their nightdresses, and he had lost all his effects, and £40 or £50 in notes.

Mr .V. Whitel.w says he took hie things away from Dare's, and gavo up the key at 9 p.m. Ho was awakened by the bell/and ran to the tire. On arriving there he : fouud D.re, hir wife, and • children-■

in the •-.«*■..<(fts leniling to the" .back*' ... it.c- Imniip.}. houso. The fire'; was.... :.h-n coming mil, ol both .hop window,' :, Date Anid to him, " iou mu6t bavelefU candle burning when you left." In reply ' he (Mr Whitelaw) weut wita-a man named John Earley into., the . part he used to occupy, and found no fire there, but Dare's kitohen and shop were all of a blaze, and an entrance conlanot bo effected. Ho left no candleor fire in - the place when he gave up the key," Loss and Insurances. ''<'&:'■ '*..-' Tho shops occupied by Dare, and \rh_ch were totally destroyed, were owned by jUn ~': Wallace, and insured for £500 in thS -■■ Northern. Dare's stock was insuredfor £850, of which £250 was in the Thtraiii, £250 in the Equitable, and £_0 in the Colonial. The rhcenix also held m.jf' insurance of £150 from the 1-st-m.D.iO-K! amount DaresayshisstoekwaswortliflSOO, The shops occupied by .Brown and Mettata , were owned by Mr Bell, and insured for:; £500 in the Royal. These building, are seriously damaged, but Miss Diiffur.t-ro ; shops, occupied by Crawley ann Carr, and : which are also insured for £500 in the.; Royal, are practically uninjored. Carr. stock and furniture were insured for £344 in the Norwich ■ Union, £1?2 of ■■■'. this amount being reinsured in the United. . He estimates his loss at £150. Mr* ; Crawley's stock and furniture were bbinsured, and her 1063 will probably : amount to nearly £50, Metrßm.'-toffc'V and furniture were insured for £75 in tbo Norwich Union, and hits loa bo about £25 over that amount. Browns were uninsured, and sustain a loss of ebouf £150. Sloney was Insured for £250, of which £150 was in the National on Block and tools. Somers had £130 in the Nor- \ wich Union, £100 being rejnsuredffn the United. Thiscoveredthestockatidfurnitart. but he considers the total loss-will be pearly ; £200. Cotter's building, which is. TOT, slightly injured, is insured for £300 in tbe Colonial, while Mr Cotter has also »on; his stock. He considers £50 will covet his', damage. Mr Young was not insured, bnt £5 will cover the damage caused to his goods by removal. The -bop ™ , Slaney and Somers, which are seiiouay damaged, aro insured for £350. m, tho Northern, while the only policy ..til.. New Zealand office has is £10 0r*.... Young's personal effects, stored in Cotters.