RECENT FIRE IN QUEEN-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 872, 30 August 1866, Page 4

RECENT FIRE IN QUEEN-STREET.

Yesterday the ruins caused by this fire were yet smouldering, and the whole of the engines were constantly employed in keeping under anything like a second outbreak of fire. We gave in our issue yesterday a detailed account, as far as could be ascertained, of the progress and destruction caused by this almost unprecedentedly large fire. There is not much to add to the information we then published. We may state that the whole of the plate glass in the stores of Messrs. Henderson and Macfarlane, J. S. Macfarlane, is smashed or badly cracked. As there is no " Plate Glass Insurance Company" in Auckland, this, if not specially mentioned in tho insurance upon the building, will form a vevy considerable loss. The side wall of Owen and Graham's may berepaired easily. Slight explosions of kerosine, powder canisters, took place at intervals during yesterday. The store of Mr. Webster had a most miraculous escape of being, ■with its contents, totally destroyed. Ivotsvithstanding that the roof had caught fire, we believe there has not been a pound's value of damage to the stock. The same applies to the premises of Lillewall and ltattray, whose damage is exceedingly small. The greatest sufferers by this fire are undoubtedly Mr. John Copland and Mr. Hugh Coolahan, the former being only partially insured, and the latter totally uninsured. We have been requested by Mr. W. Swanson to state that he was accompanied by at least a half dozen others in his attempt to save the stores of Owen and Graham. Still the greatest credit is clue for the exertions' used on this occasion. We had in the confusion forgotten to state in our first account that several members of the new volunteer fire brigade, raised in Parnell, attended and placed themselves under Mr. Asher's command, giving very valuable assistam-e. We regret, however, that there was one or two casualties, although of a very slight nature. Mr. Speight was badly scalded by the water falling from the roof of one of the burning houses". Mr. Jacobs had his hand burnt, although at some distance from the great body of fire. Several spectators had hdts, coats, or other portions of their dress ignited. We append an authentic returnof theinsuraiicesefTectedinthc several offices Three stores occupied by .J. andD.Comri. P.N.Z. Co. and .Nicol, Queen, £500; Albert, £500, J. and D. Comrie's stock, Commercial Union, £750 ; j London and Lancashire, £500; Roval, £500. R. Moore's stock, Auckland, £500. P. and IST.Z. Office furniture, Auckland, £150. Kicol's stock, Albert, £500 ; Victoria, £1000; Boyal, £1000 ; London Liverpool and Globe, £1000. W. J. Hurst's interest in Captain Young's store, Victoria, £100; Hoyal, £100. John Copland's stock, Hoyal, £800; back building at the rear, Koyal, £250. Capt. Young's store, New Zealand Insurance Company, £500. E. Moore's store, New Zealand Insurance Company, £500. Total, £9150. We correct, with great pleasure, a mis-state-ment which appeared in botli journals yesterday, as to the locality in which the fire was said to Have originated. Mr. Malcolm has called upon us to say that the fire did not originate in his loft. It appears several gentlemen who first saw the fire, burst open Mr. Niccol's door and saw the flame breaking through, the ceiling above. As it was thought' Mr. Malcolm's workshop was on the first floor, hence a mis-state-ment. Mr. Malcolm says that his workshop was not on the first floor but on the floor above that, and therefore that injustice is done to him, in alleging that the fire originated in that part of the building which was occupied by him. "We regret to state that Mr. Malcolm "was totally uninsured, and estimates his loss at from £150 to £200. We are also glad to state that Messrs. Butt and Anderson have sustained no loss whatever. There was nothing in their counting-house except their books, and those ■were recovered. As an indication of the strength of Owen and Graham's store, we are informed that their people were in the premises the ■whole time of the fire.