BIG FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1680, 11 May 1904, Page 50

BIG FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

AUCKLAND, May 4. One of the largest fires seen in Auckland fior some time past occurred in the Avbalesale iron and hardAvar© warehouse of T. and S. Morrin and Co., Ltd., at a late hour to-night. The first sign of fire was noticed at a quarter to eleven. When the city fire brigade appeared upon the scene the flames bad got such a hold that the brigadesmen were scarcely able to do anything, and the suburban brigades were sent for. When, reinforcements ’ arrived the flames were Held in check, but not for long. They soion burst out furiously, and it Avas seen that the building Avas doomed. The fire is still (midnight) raging. It is understood that the firm only recently stored away in their warehouses three large shipments of 'hardware. Later. The fire at Morrin’s has been _ kept confined to the firm’s building, which ia a three-storied-one.

It is estimated that the building and stock were xvorth many thousands of pounds.

The evening is baautifuEy fine, and thousands of sightseers are ' watching the scene.

At a quarter to twelve a heavy explosion—" Probably of gunpowder—took place. Sever ail people were injured. AUCKLAND, xviay 5. The fire which commenced last night at the large hardware store of T. and S. Mjarrin and Go. practicably wrecked ulxe building and destroyed che bulk of the stook before the firemen got the upper band. When the brigade arrived flames ware issuing from every window on the top floor, and it wars mot 'till about midnight tha/t the fire slackened and the adjoining buildings \vere out of danger. An hour later there avus a considerable body of flame in the centre of the binning building, hut at the back and front and on both sides the fire had been pretty wdil extinguished. About halfpast 2 the central portion of the a, all on the northern side of the building ooU lapsed, and some hundreds of toms of bricks fetll Avith a lend report. Several persons Avere more or less injured by lling debris. The more serious cases Avei'e those of Fireman McCormick, who bad two ribs broken; Fireman Gladding, injuries to his back and a leg; and a civilian name a Ludlow, who Lad a leg broken boloAv the knee. The company bad received the consignments of four large steamers last week, and bad jusit completed stocking Avhen the fire occurred. The stock was a miscellaneous one. The general L onibueuieos was valued at between £50,000 and £60,000. Practically nothing of the . contents of the great store reaching from High street to Bowen avenue was saved from damage either by fire or. water. The shipping offices on the ground floor and tne general offices ion the first floor have completely disappeared. Practically the western buildings were gutted except the stables, flo-T-frem ivpr. hu-g street and the watchman’s residence on the floor above. The value of the stook and building is estiimat d roughly between £70.000 and £BO,OOO. Probably the damage will nxn into the latter sum. The firm’s bocks were, in safes, and should be got out intact. The building belonged to the Bank of Neav Zealand Assets Board, but was held by Messrs T. and S. Morrin, Limited, under a purchasing clause. It was valued at about £20,000. The insurances total £72,480 —rnameIv £59.920 oil the aaurehouse and stock, and £2560 on the Queen street premises and contents. The amount is held in the first instance by the New Zealand Company, and re-insured in twentythree companies, the risks ranging from £IOOO to £6OOO.