FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10629, 7 June 1897, Page 3

FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

Wellington, Sunday. The Muniolpal Fire Brigade bad quite a lively Mmc last night. About 7.30 the bßlls Bonnded for a small flip in a tailoring establishment on Lambton Quay, and the reols had soaroely been housed when another alarm was given, which was false, bnt a few mlnates later the peals again tounded, and this time it was found that the fire had broken ont in ono of the largest establishments in Wellington, that of P. Hayman and Co., dealers in fancy goods and orookery, besides numerous other artlojes, embracing almost every* thing required In the trade, The buildIng, whloh was about the first built on the Te Aro reclamation, was of fonr storeys, oonstruoted of brick, and faced Victoriastreet, runcing back a considerable distance towards Willis-street. Until five o'clock the employs had been engaged in stock-taking and when they left everything was apparently safe, Later In tbe eveniog Mr Kellow was at work In the office, on the gronod floor, until about 8 o'clock, and when he dosed the premises there was nothing whioh denoted to him that any fire was smonldeiing in the bnlldlng. However, it was not long after that smoke was seen Issuing from the top flats, and the brigade being summoned an entrance was made from the first floor, and then the smoke was so dflsae that tbe offioeis of the brigade bad to crawl on hands and knees along the floor, bat eventually had to retire without being able to locate the teat ot the (ire, whioh evidently was not nn that floor. At this time there was no

flame to Indicate where the fire was rag« log, bnt tbe denaenetis of the smoke was overpowering and prevented any member of the brigade remaining on tbe fht for more than a mlnnte or two Sabsoqaently flames broke ont, and from this in is believed that tbe origin was in some crates of crockery In the third flat at the rear of the bnlldlng, which was only approaobed by a narrow lane off another lane, and the windows of which were protected by heavy Iron doors, all safely seonred from Inside. This considerably hampered the work of the brigade, as they conld only work from the front, and tbe water appeared to have bat little efieofc. It was not long before the flames had lioked throngh the roof and extending high In the air, lit np the whole town, Thousands of people were at all points of vantage, but the work of the brigade was In no way Interfered with. The brlgadefoughtallthey knew, butas the building was one with no brick partitions and they oould praotloally only reaoh it from the front, their efforts were of very little avail, and the fire, there not being a breath of wind, burnt itaelf out, nothing bnt the four walls standing and these look none too safe. The baok wall is bulged ont and members of the brigade are on sentry to prevent anyone approaohlng it, as it may oome down at any minnte. Craoks are apparent in the

other walls, and it a high wind should come It Is not at all unlikely that they will fall. The boarders in tho Empire Hotel, whloh adjoins, shifted from their rooma last night, not oatlDg to take tho rick of the walla coming down. Mr Laohmann, manager of the firm, was early on the eoene, and secured valuable documents from the strongroom, but the downstairs portion of the premises, chiefly confined to offioes, does not appear to have been touched by the fire, and the strongroom is safe. Nothing whatever of tbe stock was saved. The fire was (he "most disastrous here for years. Haynian and Company had a stock valued at about £30,000, and with the loss on the building estimate their loss at £10,000 above tbe insurances, whioh are as follows :— Bnildlng : £2000 In the Commercial Union, £1000 in tbe Victoria, £500 in the Royal, £500 in the Standard, £500 in the National. Fittings : £1000 la the Commercial Union. Stock : £2000 in tbe Commercial Union, £2000 in the Vlotorla, £6000 in the Royal, £1000 in tbe Standard, £1000 In the London, Liverpool and Globe, £1500 in the National, £2500 In tho Alliance, £4000 in tbo Snath British, £1000 in the Guardian, £1000 In the North British. Total, £27,500.

The Empire Hotel, building, stock, and farnltnre, which Buffered bat little, was insured for £4730 in the New Zealand Commercial Union, North German, London, Liverpool and Globe offiaes.