FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 147, 22 June 1906, Page 5

FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

A LARGE BUILDING GUTTED. (BT TBLKGEAFH.— PRIBS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, 21st June. The most destructive fire that Auckland has experienced since Morrin's warehouse was burnt, occurred shortly after six o'clock this evening. A handsome threestory block of buildings at the comer of Victoria and Queen-streets, owned by Messrs Abbot, Kneebone, and Tole, was gutted. Within a few minutes of the outbreak a great column of fire was leaping up from the roof, and it was evident the flames had gained a very strong hold. The fire spread with extraordinary rapidity, the two upper stories being one mass of flames within twenty minutes of the outbreak. By this time the column | of flame was shooting skywards to an estimated height of over 150 feet, while sparks were carried hundreds of feet higher. The spectacle was watched by many thousands of people. The Fire Brigade, police, and some sailors made a very plucky fight against the fire, while volunteers in 'uniform, kept the hose lines dear. Several gas explosions occurred, and a gas cylinder in some dental chambers was blown across Victoria-street, and through a window in the Union Bank. Tha whole of the two upper 6tories of the burning building were absolutely -wrecked, and nothing remains of them except brick walls and vast piles of debris. The ground floor escaped fairly irell, but all the stock was ruined. J. It. Self, who carries on a very large mercery business, occupied the main portion of the ground floor. He estimates that ill his stock is ruined by water. He was insured for £3000 in the Government asd Imperial offices. S. H. Matthews, auditor and accountant, has an insurance of £85 over his furniture. and effects. S. F. Matthews, indent agent and importer, has his stock insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for £150. In the two upper stories there were .about forty different offices, occupied by medical men, dentists, indent agents, and warehousemen's representatives. The building was insured for £10,300 in the South' British office, and has, it is understood, been largely reinsured. This Day. The City Chambers, which were totally destroyed, were insured in the Sooth British Office for £10,500. The insurances on the stocks included — the State Department £2300, Imperial £1100, Commercial Union £1000, Royal £600, New Zealand Insurance £150. There wax a considerable quantity of stock in the basement shops, where the insurances were the heaviest. The atook was only damaged by water.