EARLY MORNING FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 28 September 1918, Page 6

EARLY MORNING FIRE.

OUTBREAK IN QUEEN STREET,

GOODS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED. A tire broke out in a three-storey brick building, next to the South British In. surance Company's Offices in Queen Street, about three o'clock yesterday morning but was extinguished by the City Fira Brigade before, extensive damage vas done. The building is occupied by Mr. W. H. Woollams, chemist, and Mr. Walter Denison, jcwelle?, who share the three floors. The fire started in the portion of the top floor occupied by Mr, Denison, and used as a workroom, the outbreak being attributed to the fusing of an electriq wire. The damage done here was fairly heavy. Mr. Denison's offices on the next floor were damaged by water, a great deal of which also found its way to the shop on the ground floor, to the detriment of the stock of/ Jewellery and silverware. Mr. Woollams had a large stock -of chemists sundries and dispensing bottles in his stock-room on the top floor, and the fire, ifter demolishing the partitions, did considerable damage to this stock. The stock m the second floor was only slightly damlged by smoke and water. A quantity of water found its way down the walls to

the chemist shop below, damaging the contents .to a small extent. No estimato of the damage is yet available, but th« losses are covered by insurance. Mr. Denison's stock is insured for £2025 in the British Dominion* General Insurance Company, and Mr. Woollams' stock and fittings in the South British and Mi British Offices for £3000. The building, which is owned by the O'Neill Estate, and leased by Messrs. Nathan and Goldwater, is insured in the Standard Office for £400.