FIRE IN UPPER QUEEN STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1892, Page 4

FIRE IN UPPER QUEEN STREET.

CABINETMAKERS' FACTORY

DESTROYED,

About midnight a fire was discovered in Upper Queen-street, which resulted in the destruction of Messrs T. and K. Cooke's factory, which was situated opposite the Queen's Head Hotel. This factory was used for cabinet-making and upholstering purposes, tha part fronting the street being ueed for manufacturing mattresses, and a good deal of flax was stored there. The main factory was in a detached building at the rear of the upholstering department, and here was an amount of machinery used for cabinet-making. The fire appears to have commenced in this building. When discovered it had a strong hold, and spread rapidly. By the time the Fire Brigade arrived, the, premises were one mass of flames, and the result was the destruction of the factory and its contents. The loss of the machinery is serious, added to which a large amount of tools and material used in the trade have been burned. Some of the workmen have also had the misfortune to loose their tools, which were uninsured. The front building was two storeys high with another stov- y below the street level. Messrs Cooke bin ..l.t the three shops six years ago and Uuiii the factory ab the rear. Next Cooko's was the shop that has been used as an office by the Trades and Labour Council. The Brigade could not cave this building, but were more success , ful on the other *ide, where etood and other shops. As to the origin of tho fire there does not appear to be any explanation, ab present. Some of the earliest, on the seeho were ol opinion that it was in the mattresa-makinj? room that It commenced. In the factory there was a fireplace for heating glue but a brick fonder was built round this, and on Saturday, in accordance with tho usual custom, a large iron cover was lowered with a pulley to cover this up and prevent danger of tire. The insurances are as follows :-Factory, £250 ; stock in course of manufacture, £50; machinery, £60; gas engine, £140; stock in two- front shops, £50; machinery in these shops, £25, all in the Royal oliice. The three front shops were insured for £250 in the Standard office.

As far as can be ascertained, no one was in the factory after noon on Saturday, when the workmen left.

An unoccupied store which adjoined the factory was also destroyed. it was formerly used by Messrs McArthur and Co., but more roccutly was Occupied as a gymnasium "for the Union Freo Church. The plant was destroyed, and, unfortunately, was not insured.

Messrs Cook estimates their loss at about t'soo above the amount for which they are insured.

About 9 o'clock this morning an employee at Mr H. Davis' Crown Boot Factory, noticed that n quantity of leather refuse underneath the establishment was on fire. Evidently a spark had dropped there during the night, and tho leather had smouldered until gaining strength it burst into flames. Tho early discovery enabled the fire to be promptly extinguished.