DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9835, 18 September 1897, Page 8

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £10,000.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

AUCKLAND, September 17. One of the most destructive fires whiuh Auckland has experienced for some time broke out last night at twenty minutes past eleven o'clock in the packing room in the extensive warehouse of the Tonson Garlick Furniture Company Limited, and was not put out until early this morning, after damage had been occasioned to the extent of several thousand pounds to the buildings and stock. Constable Waterman, who was on the Queen street beat, saw volumes of smoke coining out of the windows and doors of the packing department of the warehouse, and almost instantly, owing to the inflammable material inside, the flames shot roofing. It was seen from the outset that the fire would be destructive, owing to the huge stock of furniture and household furnishings of every descriptions which crowded the various floors, galleries and extensive cellarages. The firemen had to fight the fire from four points, and between oue and two o'clock they had practically saved the ground floor divisions of the warehouses on the Queen street frontage from actual destruction by fire. In the southern end (the furnishing department), the stock was injured by smoke and water, and the same may be said of the furniture and suites department. The stock in tho top storey of the former department is partially, if not wholly, destroyed by fire, while the top storey of the latter department is untouched. With the exception of a twostorey brick building containing chairs, the other departments are practically gutted, and the stock is destroyed. The Furniture Factory Company's premises, situate on the opposite aide of Lorno street, escaped unscathed. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire. The promises were locked up at ten minutes past 6 p.m. by the storeman, Mr John Kearney, and there had been no light or fire used during the day in the division of the v/arehouses where the fire appeared to have arisen. Mr Garlick estimates the damage approximately at over £10,000 on the stock and buildings. Following are the insurances outhe Queen street buildings and stock .-—Buildings in the South British, on the old builcling3 (Dickey's) £1500; Commercial Union £1000 on the old buildings and £800 on the new buildings; Royal £1000 on the old buildings; New Zealand Insurancb £3000 on the new buildings; total, £7300. Stock—Standard, £1000; National, £1000 ; New Zealand Insurance, £1000; Royal, £2000; Palatine, £1000; North British, £1000; Commercial Union, £1000; Phoenix, £1000: Manchester, £1000; Royal Exchange, £1000; total, £11,000. Tata! on the buildings and stock, £18,300.

The Phoenix's insurance, on the separate building containing chairs, is saved, as the bnilding is intact. The New Zealand estimate their loss as not £1000.