FIRES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 5 March 1912, Page 5

FIRES.

DESTRUCTIVE BLAs*. IN Mii,BOURNE. (Press Association.—Copyright.) MELBOURNE, Yesterday. _ Briscoe and Co.'s ironmongery establishment in Little " Collins-street was practically destroyed by fire. The flames spread and damaged the Stock Exchange. Safe Deposit. the the English, Scottish, and Australian Bank, and the Bank of New South Wales. Collinns House is still burning, but the fire is under control. The damage is estimated at many thousands. The cause is unknown. FINE EFFORTS BY FIREMEN. £40,000 DAMAGE.

MELBOURNE, Yesterday. Briscoe's three-storey building had been erected 'only six months. The front part is separated from the rear, where the fire started, by fireproof doors, and escaped, the. flames, though the immense stock was damaged by water. The firemen did splendid work in saving the building, which is in the centre, of a packed mass of buildings. The fire was'got under in three hours.

Burning debris was. carried to adjoining buildings and started 'a* fire in the Bank of New South Wale's, but ■'■ it was soon subdued. The other buildings previously mentioned besides Montgomery's cork warehouse and a number of smaller business premises suffered from heat and water. The collapse of Briscoe's wall damaged the Bank of Now South Wales. Briscoe and Co.'s business will not be sorionsiv inconvenienced, as thev have another large store in West Melbourne. One estimate of the damage is £40.000. (Received 10.5 a.m.l MELBOURNE. This Day. The damage sustained bv Briscoe and Co. is fully covered, by insurance.