BIG FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1007, 23 December 1910, Page 4

BIG FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

A. AND P. BUILDINGS DESTROYED. ACCIDENTS TO FIREMEN AND ' CIVILIAN. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Ounedin, December 22. A disastrous fire broke out shortly before 9 o'clock this evening in the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's, big block of- buildings in Crawford Street, and resulted in the structure being completely gutted. _ The fire obtained an extraordinarily big hold before any warning was given, and:defied all the efforts of the united brigades to subdue it. The building was comprised of four brick walls, extending from Crawford Street through to Vogel Street, and having a frontage of about seventy yards. The upper portion, where the fire started, comprised the Brydone Hall and Skating Rink, half the lower floor being occupied by Messrs. John Chambers and Son, machinery agents, who wero carrying a stock of machinery, oilmen's stores, etc., to the extent of about .615,000, which is a. total loss. The other half was occupied by Messrs. AVaters, Ritchie and Co., grain, seed, and wool: merchants, who carried about JCSOOO worth of stock, grain, and seed, which was totally lost. A portion (about .£2000) was their own stock, the remainder belonging to clients. The officers of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society, Bray Brothers, the. National Elcctrio and Engineering Company, John Chambers and Son, Harvajvay's, and Clark and M'Ara's offices wero in the front of the building. The insurances on the building were as follow:—In the South British office, .£3100; New Zealand, ,£1000; Victoria, .£1000; Standard, ,£500; North British, .61000; and Queensland, .£IOO. On the stock of Messrs. IVaters, Ritchie and Co. insurances were held in the Loudon and Lancashire'office, ,£1000; Alliance, ,£1000; Queensland, cEJiOO; and Liverpool, and Londou and Globe, .£IOOO. There is some doubt with regard to the last-mentioned item. Messrs. John Chambers and Son's stock is insured in the Commercial Union office for .£O2OO. Graham, a member of the South Bnnedin Brigade, sustained a broken ankle, broken nose, and internal injuries. A civilian was also burt, but The nature of his injuries are not known at present. Another five' broke out about 11.15 p.m. in Tainc's chemical stores in Crawford Street, some three hundred yards south of the big five in the A. and P. Buildings. The fire started in a back room in the top story,, and was suppressed without much difficulty, the damage done being comparatively small. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is not. supposed that it was caused by a spark from the big fire, as the wind was. blowing in a contrary direction. The insurances wero uuascertainablc to-night.