FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15822, 20 January 1915, Page 5

FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

[advertisement.]

"WAREHOUSE OUTBREAK.

STOCK DAMAGED BY WATER.

LOSS OF OVER £.30,000.

COVERED BY INSURANCE

[Br TELEGRAPH.PEESS ASSOCIATION.]

DrNEflix, January 1. A fire broke out in the premises of Messrs. Bing, Harris, arid Company, warehousemen, in High Street, shortly after nine o'clock to-night. The outbreak originated in the tobacco department and it is conjectured that the fire was due to the overheating of the tobacco.

The premises had been closed since Christmas Eve, and so far as is known no one had entered the building since. The fire was confined to a comparatively small space upstairs and the damage, which an. pears to be very extensive, was not nearly so much due to fire as to water.

The fire originating upstairs caused the water to descend in copious quantities to the flats beneath, and this damaged fabrics and other goods. This damage was further added to by the fact that the floors have a slight slope and steps in the sime direction as the slope of High Street. Consequently the water ran pretty well all over the building.

The damage is- roughly estimated at £50.000. The insurance on the stock is roughly put down at £50,000 or £60,000, the risk being divided among nearly all the offices doing business here.

The building, which is not greatly damaged, is insured for about £6000 or £7000.

Very little difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the fire once its localitywas ascertained, but it had acquired such a hold that an extensive quant..ty of water became necessary. The. building did not contain an automatic fire alarm.

A largo proportion of the stock, consisting of general drapery and clothing, was put up for tender. Auckland folk •will be pleased to know that they will be given the chance of participating in purchasing the salvage, which was bought at a great discount by Messrs. George Court and Sons, Ltd., The Big Store. Rarangahape Road. The goods are now on the way, and immediately upon their arrival the date of starting the great salvage sale will be announced.

The firm's representative has wired stating that although the goods are wet they are in other respects quite perfect, and the price they can be sold for will indeed cause a great rush.