FIRE AT NEWMARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9111, 20 July 1888, Page 5

FIRE AT NEWMARKET.

Ox Thursday morning early a fire took place at Newmarket upon the premises occupied by Mr. Charles Goodwill, ironmonger and hardware dealer. The house was a seven-roomed wooden one, with an iron roof. The place was completely gutted, and the top storey of an adjoining building, occupied by Mr. James Impey as a fruiterer's shop, was destroyed. Both houses were owned by Mr. Joseph Osborne, who had £300 insurance on Goodwill's shop in the New Zealand office, and £200 on Impey's building, which contained five rooms and a shop, in the same office. Goodwill's stock was insured for £950. Of this, £450 was in the Royal office, and £500 in the Equitable. Mr. Goodwill estimates his loss, over and above the insurance, at £600. Mr. Impey's stock was insured for £50 in the North German office, and his furniture is insured in the same office for £50. Mr. Impey says his loss is £100 over the insurance. Mr. Goodwill, who resides in Brighton Road, Farnell, states he left the shop at half-past eight on Wednesday night, locked it up, and left it secure. There had been a fare in the office to the rear of the shop, but to the best of his belief it was out when he left the shop. He is unable to account for the origin of the fire. He also states he took stock four months ago, when it amounted to £1492. His policy in the Equitable was up at four p.m. on the 19th, in consequence of which he made a proposal to the Norwich Union office for £750, on the 18th (Wednesday), which was accepted, the premium to bo paid on the 19th. Mr. Goodwill's books were saved, being in the safe. An examination of the fireplace tends to show that the fire never originated from the fire in the office, as the office only suffered from fire from the other parts of the building. The Brigade turned out, but the fire had got too great a hold, and they could only direct their efforts to saving adjoining property, in which in the main they were successful.

MR. goodwill's STATEMENT. In answer to the questions of a Herald reporter Mr. Goodwill made the following statement: —l left the premises with Mr. Webb, of Messrs. E. and A. Isaacs, at about half-past eight o'clock, and locked up the place securely. There was not then the slightest sign of fire, and I walked to my house in Brighton Road, Parnell, near Bishopscourt. I have no idea how the fire could have occurred. The house is owned by Mr. Joseph Osborne. It was a wooden two-storey building with an iron roof. The lower floor was mainly occupied by the shop arid officcs, and there were four rooms upstairs in which stock was stored. The stock was insured in the Equitable office for £500, and in the Royal for £450. The Equitable policy would expire to-day, and I was negotiating to insure in the Norwich Union for £750. My stock sheets show that there was nearly £1500 worth of stock on the premises, besides fittings and cases, valued at £150, which were not insured, so I lose more than £GOO over and above the amount for which I am insured. I first heard of the fire shortly after two o'clock, when Mr. Hobbins, who lives near the rear of the premises, and who looks after the horse, came to my house and told me the place was on fire. lat once harnessed up the horse, and drove as fast as possible to Newmarket, but found the place a total wreck, and everything destroyed, but neither the stable nor the shed at the back of the building were injured. When the fire was reduced 1 opened the safe, and found the contents, including £35 in money and cheques—the receipts for the previous day —uninjured.