A QUEEN-STREET FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14491, 4 October 1910, Page 5

A QUEEN-STREET FIRE.

HARDWARE SHOP BURNED. STOCK BADLY DAMAGED. ESTIMATED LOSS, £3500. 'A fire broke out in the three-storeyed building occupied by Potter and Co., glassware importers, in Queen-street, just below Fort-street, shortly after eight o'clock last evening, and resulted in the interior of the building being badly burned and great damage to the stock. The cause of the outbreak is a mystery. It occurred at the rear of the retail shop on the ground door, and was seen by a passerby in Queen-street, who observing a faint flicker thought it wise to give the alarm. Though the fact was not evident from the street, the fire had evidently got a good hold. The City Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Woollev, arrived promptly on the scene, but the building by that time was enveloped in smoke find flames were issuing from the rear. The brigade attacked the tiro from the rear, but they unfortunately failed in their first attempt, by being unable to get a flow of water from the plug lituated in the centre of the lane which runs vhrough from Custom-street- to Fort-street at. the back of the block of Queenstreet buildings concerned. Recourse was then had to the plug at the corner of the lane and Fort-street, and a satisfactory flow of water being obtained two strong leads of water were set pla\ing on the burning building. At the same time a contingent of firemen attacked the fire with two leads of hose from Queenstreet-, and with four jets of water going the outbreak was gradually got under. There was a critical juncture, when for some minutes a serious conflagration was threatened. The seat of the outbreak occurring near the stairway, which leads to the top of the building, the flames rapidly leapt up into the second and third storeys, and in order to subdue them the firemen were obliged to scale both the front and rear facades. From these points of vantage the firemen were enabled to get the flames under control, and by nine o'clock the outbreak was completely extinguished. That the fire was confined to the premises occupied by Potter and Co. is due to the efforts of Superintendent Woollev and his men, who worked zealously and judiciously, and as the buildings in question are situated in the heart of a valuable block, the brigade deserves to be complimented on having effected what may be regarded as " a big save." The interior of the premises occupied by Potter and Co. was so badly burnt, the first and second floors being pierced in places, that practically the whole of it will require to be renewed. . A casual glance through the building afterwards showed that the stock, a heavy one, had been very seriously damaged. The building is part of the estate of the late Mr. T. G. Tanton, of which the trustees are Mrs. Leonora Tanton, of Sydney, and Mr. William Coleman, solicitor, Auckland. The neighbouring building, occupied by Skeates and White, also belongs to the estate. The two buildings are jointly insured in the London and Lancashire Office for about £4000. The rents are separately insured in the National Office. Potter and Co.'s stock consisted mostly of hardware, glass, and crockery. A great deal of the latter is smashed, while the* hardware is ruined by water. The insurances on the stock, so far as could be ascertained last night, amounted to, approximately, £1200. Mr. E. H. Potter informed a Herald reporter last evening that the firm's loss must be £500 or £600 over and above the insurance. The damage to the building at a rough estimate may be put down at between £1500 and £2000, so that a total Ices of some £3500 is represented.