FIRE AT BLENHEIM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 103, 24 January 1908, Page 8

FIRE AT BLENHEIM.

BIG BLOCK OF BUILDINGS j DESTROYED.: ."' • ... HEAVY LOSSES REPORTED. (BT TELEGRAPH—riIESS ASSOCIATION.) . , Blenheim, January 23. . Ono of tho largest fires on record here broke out early this morning someivhe.ro in Mr. Jas. N Benning's block of wooden buildings, between the Rank of New Zealand and the Masonic Hotel—right in tho heart .'of Blenheim. . . The alarm was not given till 5.30, but it is thought'the fire must have been burning since as early- as three o'clock. When the brigade readied the sceno of conflagration flames .were* sweeping across Market Street, fanned by a fairly strong southerly wind., .It appeared that the outbreak had occurred downstairs under, Messrs. Anstice and Company's drapery'establishment. It was goon seen that tho brick' V,"all of the bank premises—which buildings embrace also a tobacconist's (Patchett's) and a'tailor's (He's) shop—would probably stay tho progress of tho firo northwards.,., Indeed, tho fire,only stopped where it met in cach (juarter a stubborn wall of. brick. v • .Benning's big'grocery establishment and Reynolds's cvclo shop (immediately south of : Anstico and Co.'s) were soon' fully ablaze; uid tho brigade's attention was concentrated >n the Masonic Hotel, a wooden building to , the south across Wynen Street; and the premises,, of Miller and M'Kay, ironmongers, >cross Market Street, west of Benning's. very soon the- hotel was also abiaze, apd the' heat ; in the narrow streets was overpowering, tho firemen being often compelled to retreat to cover.' 1 .;. ' 'The .wind being'still fresh from the southeast, it was feared that the flames would secure- a strong hold of Miller and M'Kay's shop, and so go westward' and- engulf' the TJlub's stables and other buildings. However, the'efforts of the brigade wore successful in this direction, only the verandah being destroyed. . Practically nothing -.jyas saved from either Benning's, .Reynolds's, or Anstice and Co.'s. tUong Wynen Street tlie firo ,'swopt' everything as far as Bourke's brick .wool store (on the northern side)'.and A. Sownian's grocery/ shop.on the south. Shortly before seven a fresh outbreak occurred in the roof of-the Methodist Church, about five hundred yards to_ leeward of the main fire. This was speedily .extinguished tyy . means of a chemical engine. The fire had been practically conquered by 6.45, after the brigado had worked at it for only an hour. There was .still, however, need of constant and vigilant attention. The telephone service . was ■ temporarily disar- . rangedtho gas connection was also destroyed, and not "available for power and other purposes until about ten o clock.' ■ It is suggested by many of the early fire-' fightors that the outbreak- originated in the jritchen connected with l the Geisha tea rooms, immediately over Reynolds's shop. The , block of , buildings occupied by Messrs. J. Benning, Reynolds and Co., .and Messrs. l Anstice and Co;, was owned by, Mr., Benning, and was erected, twenty-three years ago. The Masonic Hotel, which was about 33 years old, was. owned by Mr.. Geo. 'Houldwortli. The former licensee, Mr.. Jas. Penny,', who only last month soltl out to Mr. .George' Newport, of ' the Wairarapn, ,had a seven years' first-lease with a purchasing clause at about £4000. The lease has yet about half its term to run. It will be recollected that the Masonic Hotel was made the subject of a test' cl\se as to the powers .of..licensing committees in ordering new buildings,- when it was held by Mr. Justice Cooper that, the hotel having been repaired in accordance with the requirements of the' authorities; tho committee could not; order re-building: The premises occupied by Mr. N: Maddeii f fruiterer, a'nd|Mr. G. SowmAnj tobacconist, immediately south of the Masonic Hotel, were the property of Mr. H.' S. Bush', the first licensee of tlio Masonic. Hotel. These shops were gutted -by the fire entering from the back down Wynen Street. ' ' - ; - -

The other'properties destroyed ~ were Mr; "W. Young's bakery and -the old sample rooms belonging to Mr; Beiining right opposite. ' ' The insurances, so . far as can be ascertained,. are as followJas. ' Benning's buildings, £600 in the lioya] Exchange, ; £400 Jn'vJh'o Loudon and Lancashire, and £1200 in • the National; Benning's stock, £1500 in the Liverpool, Lonilon, and/Globe, £?0() in the Koyal Exchange; Benning's sample room's, £120 in the Standard; Anstice and Co.'s stock, £1000 in Liverpool and London and Globe; W. 13. Young, baker, £275 on the building in the .I'hcenix; Masonic Hotel, £950 in , the State Office on :the building, £250 on the stock ; Bush buildings, £400 in the National; Sowman, £100 on the stock in the State Office. •

Mr. E. Reynolds, of "Wellington, states that only six cycles out of a stock valued at £700 wore saved from the fire. The stock is insured' for £500 in the Commercial Union and Australian Alliance Offices. The abovo fire will impress on the public tho need of fire-proof .safes. Chubbs's safes can bo relied on on all. occasions. Messrs. Gualtcr, Dykes, and Co., Featherston Stjeet, are New Zealand managers for the Chubbs Safes Company.—Advt. \