FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 134, 8 June 1910, Page 8

FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

SEVEBAL FIRMS SUSTAIN HEAVY LOSSES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Thursday. A fire which threatened to assume rather serious dimensions broke out in a 1-rge store and wooden building with frontages to Dowling-street and Lower High-street this evening. It started in the basement, which is occupied by John Chambers and Son, machinery agents, and the flames spread by means of an elevator to other parts of the building. After hours of strenuous work the fire was subdued, and the structure itself did not sustain very extensive damage.

The premises were owned by Mr Donald Reid, sen., and were tenanted by a large number of different firms. The building was insured in the New Zealand Office, but the amount is not available.

John Chambers and Son are the principal, losers, for, as engineers and importers, they carried a large stock of machinery and oils, valued at between £10,000 and £12,000. Very considerable damage was done both by fire and water, and the firm's loss -will be a heavy one. They have an insurance of £4500 in the Commercial Union Office, £1500 in the Australian Alliance Office, and a policy for £100 on the office furniture and effects in the Commercial Union Office.

The rooms fronting Dowling-street were occupied by the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Company. They were considerably damaged, but the insurances are not available.

A clothing factory occupied by Jacob Rittenberg and Co., was much damaged by fire and water, and Mr. Doughty, a representative of Messrs. Geo. and H. Doughty, warehousemen, Wellington, has stock and samples valued at some £2700. These have been damaged considerably, and are probably worth very little. Mr. Doughty also had some £800 worth of silks, which are now probably hopelessly damaged. During the afternoon he sent out to customers some £700 worth of goods, the last of which left the premises 10 minutes before the fire brolce out.

William B. Penhey, agent of a number of commercial firms, had a considerable quantity of soft goods damaged. Mr. White, who arrived by the Wimmera on Sunday with 22 cases of samples from Sydney, had stock valued at £150 somewhat damaged by water. Duncan Cameron, representative of Messrs. Skelton, Frostick, and Co., Christchurch. is a heavy loser. He had between £300 and £400 worth of samples packed ready, for shipment to Christchurch, and all these were more or less damaged. The Royal Exchange Assurance. A. Munro (tailor), Aslin and Bedford (solicitors), and Evans (manufacturing chemist) are losers to a smaller extent.