Great Fire in Dunedin.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 113, 14 May 1890, Page 2

Great Fire in Dunedin.

Loss £27,000.

Dunedin, May 14. [A .-enous fire involving a large loss of property hroke oufc last night in. the Hardware Company's premises in Stuart -street, Dunedin. The first telegram ou the subject seems fco have gone astray, as the earliest information to hand is contained in the following: - ]

When the Brigade and Salvage Corps arrived on the scene the fire had got a firm hold of all that portion of the building fronting Sfcuarfc street, and had made its way through the ronf with great rapidity, and spread until the entire extent of the woodware factory was in flames. In about 20 minutes from bhe alarm beißg given, having effected an entrance by means of the roof into fche upper portion of the hardware premises, the Brigade got one hose to play on the Stuart street portion, and then a second one, and then the water main in. Cumberland street was tapped, and eventually eight branches were directed on to the building. After half an hour's hard work, the fire decreased in violence. Several jets were directed to the vioinifcy of the office, aud by this means the books were saved. The safe department was free from injury, aud fragments of fche office furniture were rescued. The well directed efforts in Stuart street saved the new tube and bucket factory, and toys storey. The hardware premises, which were of brick, were gutted, and the stock in the lower storey was considerably damaged by water. The only man on the premises at the time of the fire was Joshua Moss, bhe watchman, who commonced his duties afc 6 o'clook, just as fche mill closed, and found everything right. He visited the engine room aud saw all safe there. The boiler fire was banked up for the night and the furnace door waa closed, and ha saw nothing in the room wbioh would oa.ch fiie. After this he did not visit the engine room a^ain as he rare y goes there. At about 9 o'olook he was working in the yard, and when going into tho building at a quarter to ten saw a light in the engine room, and discovered the flooring over the boiler on fire. Ha gave tha alarm, and went to the hose. Two or three man oame to his assistance and he got the water ou, but the fire Bpread wi'.h such rapidity that; they could do nobhiiig. The boiler was biicked over the top, and everything seemed as Baie as ib could possibly be. The origin of the fire is to him a mjsterv, but io is supposed that some tim« ber work in the. vicinity of the boiler had be* come heated and had taken fire. Nearly 80 men and boys will be thrown out of employ- | ment. The mauager, Mr Gardiner, is of opinion that fche premises, inoluding the mill, wood yard, factory, and ironmongery warehouse, could not be estimated as worth less thau £25,000, and of this not more than £5000 is oovered by insurance. The mill machinery is entirely destroyed, and the hardware department gutted. Very lute stock is uninjured, so that the loss will probably be between £15,000 and £20,000. The insurances on the saw mill are : - South British, £250 ; New Zealand, £500 ; Phconix, £500; Union, £250; Northern, £300, Total, £2.300. There was alao £500 on the ironLoon^ery stock in the Phceuix, and on the ironmongery buildings £500 in the South British, and further msuraiioes on the stook which is unJamcged. The premises and stook are valued at £20,500, making the loss about £27,000.