EIRE IN VICTORIA-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10835, 19 August 1898, Page 5

EIRE IN VICTORIA-STREET.

THREE SHOPS GUTTED.

INSURANCES, £1120 - ESTIMATED

LOSS, £1500. A firs broke out shortly after eight o'clock last evening, in Victoria-street .West, in a block owned by Mr. James Adams, sen., of Union-street, and in a shop occupied by Mr. M. B. Pearson, draper. At the time of the outbreak, Mr. Pearson had left the shop, and was in Symonds-street, on his way to a concert at St. Benedict's Hall, having closed up the shop and left a kerosene lamp, suspended from the coiling, burning. Mr. Jacobs, bootmaker, whose premises are opposite, was standing in his doorway, when he saw the glare of light in Mr. Pearson's shop, but knowing that he resided on the premises at first paid 110 attention, thinking it was the glare of gas, till the flames broke out, when lie gave the alarm. As the Fire Brigade station was situated round the corner, within a stone's throw of the block, Superintendent Hughes and his men were speedily 011 the spot, closely followed by the Salvage Coqis, under Captain Field. Two lewis of hose were soon got out, and attacked the fire above and below, but it was not suppressed till the three western shops were gutted, the premises of Mr. J. Selly, hairdresser, being only damaged by water. Some enthusiastic amateur salvage man wanted to break in the window of Mr. Selley's shop, but Detective Kennedy stopped him. Mr. Adams' block consisted of four shops, The one nearest Albert-street was occupied by Mr. John Selley, hairdresser, and his stock was insured in the Royal for £120 (under-insured), but the Salvage Corps, by putting tarpaulins on his stock, saved a good deal of it, but damaged. Mr. Adams, jeweller, was uninsured. He puts a quantity of stock in a safe, but bis loss will be about £200. Mr. M. B. Pearson had his drapery stock insured for £200 fn the Sun, and £200 in the Standard. He considers that he was underinsured by £340. His stock is greatly damaged. The next tenant, Mrs. ltoso Smiljh, ostrich featlior-dresser, who lives at Northcote. was uninsured, and loses stock valued at £200. Mr. Adams, sen., had the block insured in tho Alliance for £600. The origin of the fire is unknown. Sergeants Lyons, Treanor, and Kelly, were on the ground with a detachment of police.