THE DISASTROUS FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10865, 15 January 1901, Page 2

THE DISASTROUS FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

THE LOSSES AND INSURANCE. (PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, January 14. There is little doubt that the fire of yesterday was among the most disastrous which have ever visited Auckland. The properties affected were those of Messrs Bond and Bell, Commerce street, the large bonded stores of Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co., at the corner of Customs street and Commerce street, and the adjoining property of Messrs G. W. Owen and Co., Customs streetOther properties, including Messrs T. Mackay and Co.'s, in Commerce street, and Messrs W. S. Laurie and Co.'s, in Customs street, suffered a good deal of damage, but the fire was practically confined to the three buildings first mentioned, which cover together about 120 ft frontage to Commerce street, and about 160 ft to Customs street, L. D. Nathan and Co.'s store being by far the largest of the three.

The total loss cannot be far short- of £90,000, the insurances covering all but about £21,500, of which loss some £20,000 fell upon L. D. Nathan and Co.

When th'B fire bells rang out Messrs Bond and Bell's building was in a hopeless blaze, the flames having apparently caught, the whole of the interior, and burst through the roof and windows. A glar.co showed that Messrs L. D. Nathan nnd Co.'s store could not escape. When the Fire Brigade arrived, the fire had a hold on the upper floors of tii.:' building at tne coiner -._ Messrs Bond and Bell's. In the building in whi'.'h the fire originated the flajnes soon played themselves out, the whole of the interior being consumed with marvellous rapidity; but before the fire died down in this quarter it had a, firm hold in Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co.'s store, and for three hours it blazed furiously, gaining strength with every minute till about a quarter past six, when it was at its height. By this time the fire had got a footing in all four floors of the building, which, except for a portion of two lower floors at Customs street corner, was one mass of seething flame, while Messrs Owen and Company's building adjoining was also completely in the grip of the devouring fire. One after the other the heavily-laden floors of L. D. Nathan and Co.'s store had given way with thunderous crashes, and there was little left but the bare walls and brick partitions, embracing a hungry sea of flame.

The conflagration at this stage presented a most majestic sight, the whole stretch of -Oessrs Nathan and Co.'s buildin? and Owen's buildings being one mass of flame. Tlie roofs of the buildings had given way, and the flames, consuming the contents of the s.-ui'ts au .in __i_zuig v,., itap. ii.gii »n "i" air, defying the best efforts of the Fire Brigade to reduce their volume. Two hours had passed since the alarm was given, and in a thickly-built quarter of the city, with a fairly strong breeze carrying the flames from point to point, it was impossible to say where the lire would stop.

Messrs W. S. Laurie and Company's buildings, adjoining Messrs Owen and Company's, was at one tune in great oai, iununateiy uixs was saved, and by a little alter seven the fire had done its worst. The adjoining properties, though damaged to some extent, were saved from utter destruction.

Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co.'s bonded store, and the gum and produce store, let- to Mr Who tier, were completely destroyed. The building and stock were insured in the Norwich office for £51,500, and the risk was largely re-insured. The loss above insurance is estimated at £20,000. The reinsurances included: —South British £2500, Commercial Union £2500, Phcenix £750.

The American Tobacco Co'imanv '"ft ,-**■ Nathan's bond, cigarettes and tobacco valued at _,_UOO, wmcu, howevtv, were iu_y covered by insurance in the Norwich olrice. Mr Wheeler was insured in the New Zealand office, but he expects he will be a heavy loser. Messrs Bond and Bell were insured for £1400 in the Phoenix and £300 in the Alliance, and they expect to lose £700 additional. Their buildings were owned by Mr Yates and insured for £4000.

Messrs Marks and Maddox sub-leased a portion of Messrs Bond and Bell's store, and were insured in the Victoria for £500. Their loss is estimated at £200 additional.

Messrs Mackay and Co.'s large stock became a total loss, and was insured in the Northern Assurance for £600, and in the National for £400.

Messrs Heather Bros were insured in the Northern Assurance for £900, which will about cover their loss. Tbe building occupied by them, owned by Messrs Brown, Barrett, and Co., was damaged to the extent of £350, and was insured with the New Zealand Insurance Company for £1166.

Messrs G. W. Owen and Co. are covered by a policy for £1750 on their buildings, and £1000 on the stock, both cf which were totally destroyed. Mr F. Tucker's baking powder factory in Owen's buildings were insured with the New Zealand Company for £1250. Messrs W. S. Laurie and Co. were insured in the same company for £2000 on the building, and £2000 on the stock. The building was damaged, and the loss of stock considerable. The Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's building was uninjured, but had its contents damaged by water probably to the extent of £250, covered by insurance in the Alliance office.

At the fire the wall of the bonded store fell on the street and carried away a telefraph post. Mrs Flynn had her thigh roken, and a boy named George Tierney, aged 13, was seriously injured by the fall of: a telephone post and taken to the hospital.