A DISASTROUS FIRE. BIG TIMARU DSTORES DESTROYED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1908, Page 2

A DISASTROUS FIRE. BIG TIMARU DSTORES DESTROYED.

INSURANCES. £50,000. [bt telecjhapu. — r-nEss association.] TIMARU, sth February. The biggest fue in limaru since half the town ayds burned doAvn in 1068 broke out about 5.30 p.m. to-day, and completely gutted and destroyed the Farmers' Co-opeiative Retail Stores and Offices, leaving only the outer Avails and strong rooms standing, and some of tho outer walls cracked and insecure. Tho building Avas of two stories, and extended from Strathallan-street to Bes-wick-street. It was the largest business premises in the town. The. upper etory contained a big drapery clopnrtment, tailors' and dressmakers' workrooms, and an extensive suite of offices. Tho loAvcr floor contained grocery, hardware, saddlery, and furniture. The fire broke out in tho drapery department, apparently in a corner occupied by carpots ,and linoleums, next to the Manchester goods. This department closed as usual at 5 p.m., but the Avorkroom hands work till 5.30, and the fire w«as observed by the chief dressmaker. An alarm Avas given as quickly as possible, but by the time the brigade arrived tho firo had such a, hold that it Avas quite hopeless to saA"e the building. COMPLETELY BURNED OUT. • Each floor waa open from end to end, and each was filled with inflammable goods, especially the upper drapery department. The Fire Brigade got as many aa a dozen leads of hose to- play upon the fire, but could effect only temporary checks here and there, and the result was the coriiplete burning out of the interior in about three hours. Fortunately thero Avas no AA'ind, and the building stood somewhat apart from all others, so that there was little difficulty in preventing the flames from the fire spreading. Very little stock wag saved, v _but the tAA'o strong rooms, containing the books, Avere specially guarded by the brigade, and are belieA"ed to bo perfectly intnet. EXPLOSION OF AMMUNITION. The fire .Drought out practically the Avholo population, and many rode' in from long distances, the great volume of smoke persisting for so long indicating a quite unusual conflagration. A stock of ammunition in a corner of the loAver floor kept up a rattle like hail on an iron roof for half an hour, and the police cleared the street in tho vicinity. / The destruction Avas complete, and three- hours after tho outbreak the lower floor was a vast furnace consuming the debris, Avhilo the fire-lit smoke illuminated tho neighbourhood. The manager of the Farmer's Co-opera-tive Association, Mr. J. <P. Newman, happens to be absent on a holiday trip, and his Avhereabouts is not known. The total loss cannot be- accurately, or even approximately ascertained- to-night, except that the drapery stock Avas Avorth £10,000 or £20,000. The insurances on stock totalled £44,000, and are placed in the folloAving offices :— Royal £8000, Alliance, £8000, New Zealand £6500, Royal Exchange £4500, Phoenix £4000, Northern Assurance £4000, National £2500, Farmers' Union £2000, Nonvich Union £2000, Standard £1600, North British £1000. Tho Queensland offico has a, line of £1500 on fixtures and plant. The building avus insured with tho South British and Farmers' Union, but tho amounts have not yet been ascertained. The building Avas practically noAv, being built in 1900 and opened in 1901.