HUGE LOSS BY FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20115, 28 November 1928, Page 10

HUGE LOSS BY FIRE.

■ HAVOC IN WELLINGTON.

HALF CITY BLOCK SWEPT.

FRUIT MARTS AND SHOT'S.

DAMAGE ABOUT £250,000.

INSURANCES OF £120,000.

[BY TELEOnATH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.} WELLINGTON. Tuesday

The fire which broke out in tho city about 10 o'clock last evening was ono of the most disastrous in tho history of Wellington and resulted in damage estimated at approximately £250,000. Hie total amount insured was £126,350. Over half tho block of buildings lying between Allen and Blair Streets, and including two of the principal fruit and produce marts of the city, were completely gutted and extensive damage resulted to other premises. 'Die fire raged with great intensity until 2 o'clock this morning and provided a wonderful spectacle for many thousands of people who watched the flames from every possible placo of vantage. Member? of the fire brigade, supplemented by voluntary assistants and a detachment of men from 11.M.5. Dunedin, fought the Haines unceasingly but from tho start their task was almost hopeless. Not until after two o'clock were tho flames definitely under control, and at mid-day to-day debris in the destroyed buildings was still smouldering. List ol Premises Affected.

Following is a complete list of tho premises affected by the fire, tho first nino being in Blair Street:— W. Burbidge and Company, corner of Blair and Wakefield Streets, fruit auctioneers and produce merchants; contents damaged slightly by water. W. H. Dray, waterproof and clothing manufacturer, top floor Burbidge's Buildings; between £SOO and £6OO worth of stock damaged by smoke and water. New Zealand Platers, Limited, electroplaters ind manufacturers, first floor Burbidge's Buildings; stock slightly damaged bv water.

Hayward Brothers and Company, Limited, rubber and oil merchants, first floor, Burbidge's Buildings; stock slightly damaged by water.

Thompson Brothers. Limited, fruit auctioneers and general merchants, Nos 8 to 20; completely gutted. Tolan Printing Company, printers and bookbinders, No. 22 and 24; completely gutted.

Open Warehouse Company, crockery and fancy goods importers, Nos. 22 and 24; completely gutted.

Toop and Neilson, Limited, tea and general merchants, No. 24; completely gutted. G. Halstead, agent; considerable damage.

Lacry Bcveridge and Company, Limited, wine, spirit, and tobacco merchants (Victoria Buildings); premises damaged. Laery and Company, fruit auctioneers, produce and general merchants, Nos. 1 to 17; premises gutted. Campbell and Sons, carriers, basement Lnery's buildings; premises destroyed. Johnson and Eglin, manufacturers' agents, top floor, Lacry's Buildings; premises destroved.

Griffin, Savage and Company, Limited, manufacturers' representatives, top floor, Lacry's Buildings; destroyed. George Thomas and Company, auctioneers and general merchants, Nos. 9 and 11: gutted. Browne Brothers and Geddcs, Limited, wholesale manufacturing confectiouers; premises gutted. Goldingham and Beckett, Limited, general merchants, 276, Wakefield Street, stock suffered from smoke and water. Teagle, Smith and Sons, Limited, motor accessory and general merchants, 276-278; premises gutted. Rapid Spread of Flames. So rapidly did tho flames gain the ascendancy once the firo was under way that il. was impossible for the brigade when it arrived soon after 10 o'clock to determine the actual seat of the outbreak. Superintendent Creeke believes the fire must have, started either in tlie basement of Thompson Brothers' building, where a quantity of inflammable goods were stored, or on tho first floor, where a number of light wooden cases were stacked. Once on the scene tiie firemen made an effort to confine the flames to Thompson Brothers' building, but this proved impossible and a party of firemen, who had taken up a position on the second floor, had to beat a retreat as the flames leaped toward them. Soon the wholo building was ablaze, the flames providing a terrible but brilliant spectacle for the many thousands of people who had gathered. It was soon obvious that any chance of saving Thompson Brothers' building was out of the question. All Brigades in Action.

The brigade concentrated ou an effort to save the surrounding buildings, which were in grave danger. Calls for assistance were sent to all the outlying fire stations, the resources at the central station having been taxed to tho utmost, and before long other engines and reinforcements of brigadeMiicn arrived. Auxiliary firemen, members of the volunteer fire police and a detachment of sailors from If M.S. Dunedin, were also brought in and tho battle against overpowering odds commenced in real earnest. For dose on an hour the flames were confined to the centre of tho building where, they had first taken hold, but soon after 11 o'clock flames bursting from tho upper storey of a building in Wakefield Street, occupied by Teagle, Smith and Sons, indicated that the firo was spreading. The fire took a north-easterly turn and after skirting tho rear portion of Laery, Beveridgo and Company's building at tho corner of Wakefield and Allen Streets attacked tho buildings facing Allen Street owned by tho Wellington Fruit and Produce Exchange and occupied by various tenants. Here the fire raged at its worst and in spilo of the efforts of the brigade the buildings occupied bv G Thomas and Company, Browno Brothers and Gcddcs and oLher tenants wero gutted. Flames at Last Controlled.

From Allen Street tho firo spread rapidly through tho block of buildings to Blair Street, defying tho efforts of Superintendent Crceko and his men to check it, and before long it had attacked (ho open china wareliouso and the lolan Printing Company's works, both of which were gutted. By this timo' it was nearly 2 o'clock, four hours Since the brigade had received the first, alarm, and still the flames wero leaping and threatening further destruction. Gradually, however, tho brigade attained tho upper hand, and by half past two tho firo appeared to be under control, although by no means extinguished. In fact, nt uiid-dav today, there was still need for the presence of a number of brigadesmen as a quantity of tho debris was still burning. About three years ago a fire occurred in tho same block of buildings as those affected last night, and at that .time considerable damage resulted.