FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8473, 26 January 1891, Page 10

FIRES.

FIRE ON BOARD SHIP. About half-past eleven p.m. on the 22nd January tire was detected on board the American ship Leading Wind. The vessel was nearly loaded up with flax and kauri gum. When first detected the fire appeared to have a good hold in the forepart of the ship, and an alarm was given and steps at once taken to get the fire extinguished. This proved futile, and after a long and fierce struggle it was resolved to scuttle and sink her. She was towed out into the part of the harbour opposite to Freeman's Bay, and sunk about six a.m. on the 23rd January. The fire appears to have been smouldering for some time, for one of the crew on January 21 reported having felt the smell of fire. Search was made at that time but with no satisfactory result, though thirty-four hours afterwards the fire was discovered burning very energetically. Had the fire not broken out she would have sailed in a few days for New York. The cargo of the ship was comprised of flax and gum alone, there being about 570 tons of the former, and SO of the latter. The flax will, of course, be almost wholly spoiled for commercial purposes, but it is anticipated that the gum will not be a great deal the worse for its seawater bath. A rough computation places the value of the freight at about £16,000. Tho following firms were the chief shippers of tho cargo on board Messrs. Carr, Johnston and Co., A. Heather, E. Porter and Co., New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company, Patterson and Co., L. D. Nathan and Co., and Wingate, Burns, and Co, Amongst the kauri gum on board the ship was a particularly valuable box of rare varieties, comprising the splendid collection which Captain W. Farquhar has taken years to amass, and which cannot be replaced. Though frequently importuned the owner had always refused to send these specimens to any exhibition owing to the danger of loss or breakage. He was, however, persuaded recently to forward them to the World's Exposition at Chicago, and they were shipped on board the unlucky Leading Wind. For special safety they were stowed in the storeroom apart from the general cargo, but though about nine o'clock an effort was made to remove them the smoke was too thick to admit of anyone reaching them, and they went down with the ship. The South British has a policy of £050 on the flax ; New Zealand £2250 on freight and an open cover on tho flax ; National, an open cover on the flax under 100 tons; Thames and Mersey, £2560 on flax, £10(i0 reinsured in the Manheim; the United, £200 on kauri gum. The Canton Insurance Company is also interested on the cargo. Some of the companies scarcely know the full extent of their loss yet, but it is understood the loss of some of them will be greater than represented by the above figures.

DESTRUCTIVE BUSH FIRES. A ten-roomed house near Master ton, belonging to Mr. F. G. Moore, clerk of the County Council, was totally destroyed by fire on .January 10. The insurances .".mount to £1000 on the house and furniture. A heavy gale of wind was blowing in Masterton on January 10. A fire started in the upper plain, and spread with great rapidity towards Masterton. The residences of Messrs. Tinners, Vaughan, Hoffman, and Pond were destroyed, and several others were in danger. The fire has done an enormous amount of damage. Two miles of country have been devastated, fences, stock, and posts falling a prey to the flames. Five nouses are known to have been destroyed. The following are the known insurances Seven - roomed house, belonging to Mr. Royse, £200 in the New Zealand ; Broska's five-roomed house, £125 in the Standard ; Cummins', live-roomed, £100 in the New Zealand, and £50 on the furniture in the National. The house of fond is uninsured, bub ib is believed thab of Hoffman is in-

sured. Heavy rain fell on the night of January 10 and subdued the flames to such an extent that further damage has been averted.

On Dec. 29, about half-past eight p.m., the Albert-street firebell rang out an alarm, and it was presently seen by the glare and smoke down Albert street that the fire was in the large three-storied brick building at the corner of Swanson and Albert-streets, known formerly as Hull's Bond, but latterly used as a store by the Loan and Mercantile Company. Tho Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, were very promptly on the ground. On their arrival it was seen that the fire had originated on the first floor, where a quantity of flax was stored, the flames smashing the window glass through the intense heat, and shooting out into the street. Two leads of hose were got out from the adjoining hydrant, and the ladders being planted against the wall the branchmen soon poured in a flood of water and got the fire under. At an early stage the Salvage Corps forced in the doors on the ground floor, and covered the 150 bales of wool stored there with tarpaulins, so that as little damage was occasioned to the wool as could be avoided, consistent with the suppression of the fire. About 30 tons of flax was thrown out into the street from the first floor. It had been intended to have' shipped jt that very day in the barque Lurline to Boston, but it was blocked out, the vessel not being able to take the whole consignment. There were also in the store about 70 tons of superphosphates, general merchandise, and some furniture. The only damage to the building is the breakage of the windows. All the flax is damaged by fire and water, and the wool partially damaged by water. The goods in the top storey were uninjured, the fire being confined to the floor in which it originated. The Loan and Mercantile Company have the building insured in the New Zealand for £1500 ; on general merchandise, £500 ; and on wool, £500 in the same insurance company. But we are informed that the wool is further insured, as the risk is all covered by insurance. Carr, Johnston, and Co., we are informed by Mr. Johnston, have the flax insured for £800 in the South British ; Messrs. Butcher and Co. had a policy in the Sun office of £300 on goods in transit. The superphosphates are said to be owned by Messrs. Alfred Buckland and Sons. Mr. Shirley, who has gone to Australia, had his furniture stored in the building, and it is insured in the New Zealand for £200. The damage to wool and merchandise (inclusive), it is anticipated, will bring the total loss by the fire to over £1000. A lire broke out in C. G. Laurie and Co.'s confectionery manufactory, Newmarket, on January 8, resulting in the destruction of the building, and also a cottage adjoining, the property of Mr. Edgerley. The insurances on the premises of Laurie and Co., are:—£4oo on the building and contents in the South British Office, and £100 on the contents in the Union Office. The adjoining cottage, belonging to Mr. Edgerley, was insured for £90 in the Royal Office. There is nothing further known as to the origin of the lire. Early on Tuesday, the 20th January, the residence of the Rev. H. H. Lawry, Carlton Gore Road, was destroyed by fire. Some of the furniture and effects were saved, but the efforts to save the build-

ing were unavailing. The insurance on the dwelling was £600, and on the furniture £300, both policies being in the New Zealand Insurance Company. A large fire broke out in Hardy-street, Nelson, on Jan. 3, in the premises of J. P. Cooke, house ciaoorator, and spread to a cottage- owned by Cooke. Haslem's boot bazaar and a large two-storey building owned by C. W. Moore, and occupied by Clapham, medical herbalist, and the Nelson Co-operative Society. The brigade worked splendidly, and prevented further spread. Over Cooke's shop was the Y. M.C.A. Hall, and Good Templars' lodgeroom. All their furniture, library, arid valuable American organs were destroyed. The insurances are : —Cooke's shop, £400, South British; cottages £190, South British ; Cooke's stock, £250, South British ; Cooke's stock, £250, New Zealand ; Cooke's stock, £250, Sun ; Y.M.C.A. furniture, £100, Royal; Haslem's furniture, £100; stock, £100; both in the North German. Building owned by Foy, £375, National; Co-Operative Society's stock, £250, Liverpool, London ; Moore's buildings, £300 in the Norwich Union. The houses on the opposite side of the road were slightly damaged. Cooke estimates his loss over the insurance at £1500, and Moore £600. Hastie's house at Milbourne Station, Kai- | koura, Mas destroyed by fire on Dec. 29. The insurance is £1000 in the Union on the building. The furniture was saved. The Elder Brothers' homestead at Lanedale, near Mastcrton, was totally destroyed by fire on New Year's night. 'The insurance was £400 on the building, and £100 oil the furniture. A fire on the Ist January in the Victoria Avenue, Waviganm, gutted the premises of Mr. Beck, bootmaker, a six-roomed detached cottage. The insurances partially cover the loss. On the furniture there is £150 in the Victoria ; on the building, £50 in the Standard and £150 in the Equitable. A fire broke out on the sth January in a seven-roomed dwelling and shops, occupied by Bryenson, butcher, at Linwood, Christchurch. It was totally destroyed. The insurances were £200 on the furniture and plant Commercial Union, and the house £500 in the New Zealand Office. Very little furniture was saved. The origin is unknown. A twelve-roomed house at Mornington, owned and occupied by the Registrar, was burned down on January S. The house was insured for £1200, and the furniture for £500 in the .South British, which was re insured for half. A fire broke out on Friday night, the 9th January, in the draper's shop of W. A. Smith, George-street, Dunedin. The Fire Brigade managed t.o check the fire, but not before much damage was done to the shop and contents. The stock and fittings, which' were valued at £400, are only insured for £100 in the Equitable office. The premises are owned by Cuten and Hart, and it is supposed are insured. A fire in Wilson-street, Wanganui, on January 14, gutted an eight-roomed house owned and occupied by Mrs. Miller. The furniture was insured for £150, but was all saved. The house was insured for £250 in the London, Liverpool, and Globe. A fire occurred on the Sfh January at Mangere, when the outhouses and stables of Mr. Robert Wallace, farmer, on the western side of the .Mangere mountain, wore totally destroyed. It is believed that the outbreak was caused by spontaneous combustion. In he sheds were about 25 tons of hay, two spring carts, and a number of agricultural implements. These were all destroyed. Mr. Wallace injured his hands severely in an unsuccessful attempt to get out the spring cart. Several neighbours assembled, and assisted in preventing the fire from extending to some adjacent haystacks. Mr. Wallace estimates his loss at £500. There was no insurance on the hay, but the sheds were insured in the Royal Office for £300. A fire at Gore on January S practically destroyed two shops belonging to A. L. Brown, shoemaker, who occupied one, and Smith, seedsman, the other. Insurances :

Smith's stock and furniture, £100, South British ; building and Brown's stock, £375, in the Norwich Union. Brown's stock was mostly saved. A -shed and forty bales of wool, belonging to Mr. William Adams, of Langley Dale Station, Marlborough, were destroyed by lire on the 10th January. The origin is unknown. Insurances, £500 in the National. A cottage at Pelichet Bay, Otago, owned by Mr. R. Abernethy, was destroyed by (ire. The insurances are : —House, £150, in the Standard ; furniture, £150, in the same office. On Saturday, January 17, the residence of Mr. J. M.-ickay, Lake Takapuna, was destroyed by fire. The fire was discovered by one of the children, and the alarm was speedily given. The neighbours rendered such aid as was possible, but the residence was totally destroyed. A threshing machine was also lost, but a little furniture was saved. Mr. Mackay had been away visiting the Wangarei district, and only returned to see his home in flumes. It was uninsured, and hie loss is estimated at £400. The fire appears to have had its origin from a spark from the chimney setting lire to the shingled roof, and shortly after the building was in flames. On the 20th January McLeod's store at Broad Bay on the Peninsula, Otago, was destroyed by fire. The building was owned by Mercer Bros., and is believed to be insured ; but there was no insurance on the stock, which had been added to on the previous day.

A fire occurred at Wellington on the 19th January, John Anderson's bakery and general store, in Taranaki street, being burned. Insurance: £300 in the North German, £200 in the Federation, and £500 in the Commercial Union. Anderson said he had only time to jump out of the window. The police were not satisfied with the circumstances of the fire, and an inquest will beheld. . On Jan. 18 a stack of hay, valued at about £40, the property of Wm. Harris, Cambridge West, was burnt down. Incendiarism is suspected, but there is no clue to the perpetrator. There was no insurance.