FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13936, 19 December 1905, Page 8

FIRES.

[Pun Pnzss, Association.] DUNEDIN, December IS. ; A largo two-storeyed building at the corner of George and Hanover Streets, belonging to the He-enan estate; was completely gutted by fire yesterday morning. The building was insured for £SOO, and the effects of Mr Patrick Critchley, who carried on business as a for £2OO. Mr Harry Galland, a boarder, had a narrow escape! He; had to drop from an upstairs window, a distance of nine'feet, burn-' ing his hands and getting hie feet cut, necessitating his removal to the hospital. The insurances are- r -£2OO on the contents in the Manchester Office; £SOO on the building in the Royal Office, reinsured for £250 in the Yorkshire Office. A fire occurred shortly J-jefore seven o’clock yesterday by which a largo dwelling-house in Gloucester Street West was almost completely destroyed. -The building, a wooden one, was of two storeys, containing eleven rooms, and was built three or four years ago by Mr W. A. Day, grain merchant. It was' occupied by Dr William Anderson, who has been- in Christchurch only a few months. The fire originated in the washhouse. A servant girl lit the copper fire there about six o’clock,- ami ‘three-quarters of an hour later, bearing a crackling sound, she ran out of the j kitchen, to find ' the washhouse in flames. That building, attached to the ! house, was on the southern side, and the south-west wind quickly carried the flames to the main building. An alarm was given, and the brigades turned out but in the few minutes that elapsed before they could begin work, the fire obtained a strong hold on the house.

The upper rooms and ail the back portion of the, house wore completely destroyed, and the front rooms were gutted. The fire spread so- rapidly that very little could be saved, and tin members of the family had a narrow escape. The- building was insured will the National Company for .-£I6OO, and the contents for £7OO with the New Zealand Insurance' Company. The damage to the building is estimated at about £IOOO, and the loss on the contents is a serious one, a piano, some o: the furniture from the front- rooms, and a few books only having be-eu saved.