A DISASTROUS FIRE. THE CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1908, Page 9

A DISASTROUS FIRE. THE CHRISTCHURCH SENSATION.

LIST OE INSTJEA.NOES. THE PREMISES DESTROYED. [BT TELEGKAPH. — PKESJI ASSOCIATION.] CHPtISTCHURCH,_Bth February. The premises destroyed in the disastrous fire last night wero as follow : — High-street. — Ashby, Bergh, and Company, Ironmongers ; Tribe and Company, Mercers ; Hulbert and Company, Taiiors ; Freeman's, Limited, Caterers ; Williamson, Chemist ; Tucker, Jeweller; White Hart Hotel; Anglo-New Zealand Cycle Company, J. Maine, Bootmaker. Cashel-street. — D.1.C., New Zealand Clothing Factory. Lichfield-stre-ot. — Strange and Company, Warehousemen ; Malcolm and Company, Warehousemen ; D Benjamin and Company, Warehousemen; Gill Brothers, Woollen Merchants. Bank Paght-of-Way.— Wardell Brothers' bacon store. TOTAL, £220,460. As well may be imagined, the representatives of tho various insurance companies were kept busy to-day attempting to ascertain the amount of loss that their respective companies sustained. This was by no means an easy matter to arrive at, as in most instances reinsurances have been effected. Below is given the total antount of the insurances. They represent the amount that each company will be called upon to Eay, or the value up to which they may c called upon 10, reinstate tbe damage done. In soma cases the figures represent a greater loss than ths amount of cover : in others the opposite state of affairs. It will ba seen that tho total (including the risk held by Lloyds, London, of £34,000 on the D.1.C.) is oVer £200,000. The relation this total bears to the actual loss is of course almost impossible at present even to guess at. The following are the amounts of insurances (referred to above) as far as is known : — Lloyds (London) £34,000 Royal Insurance Co 30,000 Alliance Assurance 00. ... 23,000 Yorkshire Fire and Life and Accidont and Life ... ... 13,250 Pioyal Exchange Assurance Co. 12,560 New Zealand Insurance Co. ... 10,200 London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Co 10,000 Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance^ 9,5C0 Northern Assurance Co. ... 9,C00 Victoria Insurance Co. ... ... 8,000 North British and Mercantile Insurance Co. ... .... 7,000 Commercial Union Assurance Co. 7,000 South British Fire and Marine Insurance Co 7,C00 Sun Fire Oflice .* 7,000 Guardian Assurance Co. ... 5,600 New Zealand Government State ; Fira Insurance Offlcs ... 4,700 Atlas Assurance Co. .. ; ... 4.5C0 Standard Fire and Marino Insurance Co 4,500 National "Firs and Marine Insuranco Co. 4.200 North Queensland Insurance Co 3,500 Australian Alliance Assurance Co 3,000 United Insurance Co 2,300 Phconix Assurance Co. ... 750 Total , £220,460' It is generally understood in insurance circles that the result of tho fire will be practically a- total loss to the companies. Out of "the above total £30,600 is held by New Zealand companies and the State Fire Department, but, of course, there may' bo reinsurance, which will alter this proportion. At the same time, it is apparent that the English and Australian insurance companies have had to be relied on for £193,000 of the grand total, which gives some evidence of the extent to which New Zealanders are still compelled to rely on English offices for insurance cover. INDIVIDUAL COVERS. Of course, it is impossible for insurance institutions to make up an absolutely reliablo statement of the amount of cover held by. the individual firms affected by the fire, but the following figures may be taken »as fairly reliable :—: — Ashby, Bergh and Co., Ltd., building and contents ... £29,000 D.I.C, building and contents ... 81,500 RoberL Malcolm and Co., building and contents 14,080 Strange and Co., Ltd., building 6,000 White Hart Hotel, building and contents 15,700 White Hart warehouse 1,000 F. W. Tucker, stock 3,000 Wardell Bros, and Co 10,000 H. H. Clifford 1,750 P. Hayman and Co 2,000 D. Benjamin, building 3,250 D. Benjamin, contents 6,500 Gill Bros., building 2,250 W. A Tribe and Co., building 750 W. A. Tribe and Co., contents 1,450 Hulbert, Slaymaker and Co., building 2,500 Hulbert, Slaymaker and Co., contents .. ... ... 3,100 Freeman' 6, Ltd., building ... 7,000 Freeman's, Ltd., contents ... 5,000 Beath and Co., buildings and , contents 28,025 'Bank of Australasia ... . . 10,000 These are the main items, but there are other insurances that have not yet been adjusted, THE NEED FOR A HIGH PRESSURE WATER SUPPLY. In the course of a statement this morning, the Mayor deplored the widespread disaster that had occurred, and on behalf of the civic authorities extended the warmest sympathy to the sufferers. He said the lamentable occurrence wont, far to emphasise the necessity for a high-pressure water supply, and although this effective means of fire extinction would soon be available, the faot remained that had the ratepayers been fully alivo to their responsibilities some years ago, and carried the poll when first tho proposal was submitted, last night's fire would most likely have been confined to the building in which it originated. "What we require," his Worship added, "'is a large, continuous supply, which may be augmented by the steam fire engines. The delays occasioned during critical moments by shifting the engines last night were the cause of much destruction.' 1 ' THE DANGER FORESEEN. A TALK BEFORE THE FIRE. [Bt Teleouaph — Special to The Post.] DUNEDIN, This Day. Apropos of the defective appliances at the Christchurch fire, the Star cays : — "One of our reporters visited tho Christchurch Fire Brigado Station a few months ago, and in the course of conversation with the officer in charge the difference in methods of operation at the scone of a fire in Dunedin and Clnistchurch respectively were referred to. "I wish we had the advantages you have in Dunedin," said he. "You have a high pressure from your elevated retervoui, aud aU you have to do is to (onnei't your hoto' with the water main plugs in the ttrectß and you have a povcilul stream of water diovning the ike at once," At Christchurch the ar-.

tesian supply is fo freely tapped that its power to rise is practically exhausted at the Furface;" s»nd the officer proceeded -. "Our steam fire-cngir.es are connected with high pressuie boilers in tho building, ro that when a call comes the engine' boiler in promptly filled with hot water, and the connecting pipo is quickly unscrewed, the banked fires in tho engine arc drawn and replenished ao that by tho time we reach the scene of the fire we are usually able to draw upon the &team at once. In many places the artesian pipos aro clown 90 feet, and when it comes to a big fire there is a job to get enough water. We have had to lay 400 yards oi hose and connect by the riven Avon to get a sufficient supply." The neighbourhood of the present fire was referred to as the most j valuable part of Christchurch and at tho ! same .time tha most difficult section wherein to fight a fire of any magnitude SEARCHING THE RUINS. The fearch amongst the debris reveals an enormous loss of papers, valuable documents, and other valuables that cannot bo replaced, and in many instances cannot bo covered by insurance. Securities placed in Chubbs fire-resisting safes are secure — former fires have proved that. To destroy papeis in one of Chubb's juifes you must melt 'tho safe, and that ha& not been done yet. Saved from the ilames by Chubb's safe has been heard at all big fires. Gualter," Dykes and Co., Featherston-street, agents foT New Zealand, will send you all particulars about Chubb's fire-resist-ing safes and strongroom doors. — Advc. |