CONFLAGRATION IN WELLINGTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 78, 31 March 1908, Page 3

CONFLAGRATION IN WELLINGTON.

i CBy Telegraph.—Press Association.) "WELLINGTON, Monday. A fire broke out this evening in the Puketapu Sawmill Company's premises, situated between Victoria and Courtenay Place. A stiffish north-easterly wind was blowing, which quickly fanned the flames, and caused the fire to spread diagonally towards the front street of Courtenay Place, and the inflammable material in the timber yard was quickly consumed. Then the fire swept into Courtenay Place and gutted a twostorey brick building owned by Mr. T. Young, which contained, on the ground floor, three shops. One of these was occupied by Mr. Kirkpatrick (grocer), and one by Mr. Tester (hairdresser and tobacconist), the other being empty. An empty wooden shop adjoining, also owned by T. Young, was destroyed, as also were premises occupied by Mrs. Levy, a second-hand goods dealer, and Mr. Kane, confectioner. The top floor of Mr. Young's building was occupied by Messrs. Nieholl, Stringer and Co., painters. No estimate of the damage can be made at present, but it must Drove to be considerable, perhaps about £5000. THE INSURANCES. | Mr. Young's brick building was insured for £2,800 in the Phoenix Office, and two-thirds of this amount was reinsured. The empty wooden shop, owned by Mr. Young, was insured for £200, with the Phoenix Office. A risk of £250 was held by the Phoenix Office on the Puketapu Sawmill building, half being reinsured. The Phoenix had also a policy of £25 upon tools in the mill. . The main insurance of the contents was with the Royal Exchange Company, which had a policy of £ 1500 upon the contents of the mill, and £500 upon the timber. Mr. Tester was insured for £200, and he estimates his loss at £ 150 more. Messrs. Nicholl, Stringer and C'o.'s stock of paints was insured for £ 600 in the New Z_aland Company's office.