FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXXI, Issue 10258, 29 January 1894, Page 5

FIRES.

AT WANGANUI. [Per Press association.] WANGANUI, Jan. 27. A fire in Victoria Avenue, at throe o’clock this morning, wrecked five shops—Fenton (batter), Hannah (bootmaker), Gatenby (chemist), Tustia (painter), and Anderson (furniture-dealer) all suffering. Tbe firo broke out in Fenton’s shop and travelled up the staircase, communicating with marvellous rapidity to the upstair portion and the adjoining buildings. The fire brigade worked well, snd all danger was averted within half an hour of tbe alarm. It was a fortunate circumstance that there was no wind, or the whole of tha block must have been consumed, With the exception of Fenton’s premises, which wore gutted, the other damage is mostly through tbe charring of the upstair’s portion, and tha deluge of water uoured on the flames.

The insurances on the fire in Victoria Avenue are :—John Anderson : Stock, New Zealand £350, Alliance £250, Phcenix £3OO, Northern £IOO. The stock ia valued at nearly £6OO, and the damage is estimated at £ISOO. The New Zealand has £l5O reinsurance with the South British. Hannah and Company: £2OOO in the Straits Settlements, and £6OO in the New Zealand. Satsnby : £IO9O Norwich Union. Tustia; Stock, £250 New Zealand and £l5O Phoenix; building, £SOO Standard, £IOO Manchester Union. Fenton: £IOO Manchester Union, £l5O Phoenix ; stock, fixtures, and tools. The block cf buildings belongs to tbe Tavlor estate.' THE NELSON FIRE. NELSON, Jan, 27. In her evidence at the inquest yesterday, Mrs Doe seams to have mistaken the identity of a young man named Williams, similar in. appearance to Baker. Ha says it was he who spoke to Mrs Doe on the morning of the fire at the school. GREYMOUTH, Jan. 27. By a fire at Totsra Flat this morning, Cohen’s store and dwelling were burned to tho ground. Insurances £l5O in the Economic, and £l5O in the Manchester Union.