FIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 10705, 18 August 1898, Page 2

FIRE.

An outbreak of fire occurred in Princes street Bouth last night, by which one shop was completely gutted and three others more or less damaged. The fire originated in the shop of Mr Thomas Weir, hairdresser, and was discovered at 10.35 p.m. by Mr W. Catter, hairdresser, whose shop is two doors further Bouth, and who at once fave the alarm by telephone from the Impire Hotel. The fire had by this time obtained a strong hold of Mr Weir's shop, and it spread on both sides, attacking the tinsmith's shop of Mr A. Deaoon on the south side and those of the Co-opera-tive Agency (a branch of Mr A. Thompson's sail and tent-making business) and Mr H. R. Bell, saddler, on the uoith side. The brigade turned out with their usual promptitude, but their effort* were considerably hampered by tie dilapidated nature of the buildings, which rendered anything like free working out < f the qti stiou, !phey, however, worked willingly, and were not long in getting the flitnea under, and that they were able to save from complete destruction the shops attached shows the value of their services. As it was, Mr Weir's shop was the only one completely destroyed. The walls and ceiling of Mr Deacon's shop were considerably burnt Jn places, and the south wall of Mr Thompson's was burnt through, whilst the roof also suffered somewhat. Mr Bell's shop was only slightly damaged by fire, but his stock was badly deluged with water. Mr Deacon owned the shops occupied tyy Mr Weir and himself, and had a policy of insurance on the building and on his own ttock and machinery for £l5O in the South British Office; and the other two shops were owned by Mr Sew Hoy, who had an insuranoe of £45 on each of them with the Alliance Office. The bujldings were all erected on Corporation leaseholds. Mr Thompson had his stock insured fcr £IOO in the South British, and Mr Bell had a 'line of £2QO on his stock and plant with the Norwich Union. In both these cases the damage is fully covered. Mr Weir's stock was valued at about £6O, and his only insurance was £2O with the Alliance Office. The cause of the fire is unknown! Yesterday being the weekly half-holiday, Mr Weir locked up his shop at one o'clock, and returned again about halfpast three for the purpose of getting his overcoat. He was not again on the premises, although he passed them at 7 30, when on his way to the Agricultural Hall'. When in the shop during the afternoon he used no matches, and everything appeared to be right. This is the third occasion during this year on which Mr Weir has had the misfortune to be burnt out. In January last, when at Chaslands, in Southland, a three-roomed dwelling, of which he was the occupier, was, with its bontents, completely destroyed, and he was the ccoupier of the four-roomed bouse and store at the corner of Dpwling and Smith streets which was burned down on July 5 last.