GREAT FIRE IN TOWN.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1718, 1 February 1905, Page 23

GREAT FIRE IN TOWN.

D. 1.0. PREMISES COMPLETELY DESTROYED PRACTICALLY NOTHING SAVED. THE “ECONOMIC” BADLY DAMAGED. One of the biggest blazes that has ever occurred in Wellington shot out from the centre of that solid block on business premises squared in by Lambton quay, Panama, Featherston, and Brandon streets, between 4 and 5 o clock on Thursday morning. The seat of the outbreak was the line retail warehouse of the D.1.C., running in a straight line north and couth from Panama street to Brandon street. So fierce and. irresistible was the lire as it roared through the building, devouring the large stocks in the various departments, that m about an hour and a half from the time of its discovery tho building was gutted from street to street. Only heaps of smouldering soft goods, sending up great puffs of dense white smoke, greeted the gaze of the employees of the firm when they arrived on the scene at 8 a.m. DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE. The outbreak was discovered simultaneously by Mr G. W. Gaudin, publisher of the “Nbav Zealand Times,” and Constable Sweeney. Mr Gaudin smelt fire when he was in Havkestone street , at about 4.J5 a.m. As he approached the city the fumes became stronger, and when opposite Messrs McEwen and Churchill’s shop, lie saw a huge volume of smoke, followed almost immediately by a tongue of flame leaping skyward from the middle of the block. Mr Gaudin and Constable Sweeney, who had also noticed the outbreak, raised an alarm. Meantime, the fire was gaming a terrific hold, and having enlarged the exit in the roof, the flames belched upwards and outwards to such an extent that it was feared the place would be utterly destroyed before any preventive measures were taken. A RAGING INFERNO. By the time the brigade arrived and got to work it was seen that there was little chance of saving any portion of the D.I.C. The passage-way through the main and central portions of the building ran in a straight line from Panama to Brandon street, and was lit by a large skylight running almost the full Length of the building, a large balustraded opening being left in the first floor to admit light to the ground floor. How long the fire was burning before the heat cracked the glass of this skylight, and so permitted the smoke and flame free egress is not known, but it is most probable that the first aperture made in the glass skylight accounted for the discovery of the fine. The destruction of the skylight opened the full extent of the building to the air and what little wind there was, and the invigorated flames were sent leaping in every direction —through archways, down passages, up staircases, and into closed rooms, licking up the piles of fancy goods on the.first floor, and reaching for the well-laden shelves with a voracious appetite that knew no satiety. Hungry sheets of lurid flame cracked their way through all parts of the building, and shot hissing tongues into the exposed compartments, devouring everything in their tracks. A STREET IN DANGER. A gentle southerly fanned the flames through the Brandon street windows, until the heat sizzled the paint on the opposite buildings of the Tourist Department, Messrs’ Danks and Sons, Messrs Chapman and Tripp, and the suite of offices adjoining—a row of wooden buildings. The glass roofing of the verandah that shelters the Brandon street frontage of Messrs Kirkcaldie and Stains shop was much damaged, and nobody cbuld venture beneath on account of the intense heat and the showmens of broken glass. The plate-glass windows of tho Tourist Department were smashed by the heat, and the front of tho ancient building was stripped completely of any semblance of paint. Tho roof will also need a new coat of paint. Strange to say, the heat did not. affect tho cluster of electric light bulbs that form a design over the. doorway. The damage should be covered by £SO. Messrs Danks and Sons, next door, had their windows smashed and the window-frame warped out of position by the intense heat. Mr Danks estimates that £3O will about cover the damage sustained. The front of Chapman and Tripp’s office resembles the surface of a rippled lake, so peculiar was the effect of the heat on the paint. THE ECONOMIC ABLAZE. Severe damage is suffered by Messrs Georg;' and Kcrsley, proprietors of “Tho Economic,” the back of whose premises abuts on to the brick wall of the D. 1.0. Nothing is uniform in the construction of tho rear of tho Economic (which includes the Phoenix Chambers). There is an area of uneven iron roofs and skylights, some of which light one-story and others twostory buildings which form part of a

heterogeneous block, formerly owned by the late Mr W. Laery, the late Mr Barraud, and Mr William Barton (of Feathcrston). The interest of the two last-named persons was bought some years ago by Messrs George and Kersley, and the Laery estate still holds the lease of the corner property occupied by Messrs Harcourt- and Co. raid Messrs Findlay and Dalziell. The latter property was uninjured by the fire. The flames, however, obtained an entrance to the Economic through the large skylight over the Manchester department, and a glance at the blackened shelves, walls, and ceilings, and burnt and scorched Manchester materials. shows how the flames musthave eddied round this compartment. The roofs caught in many places, and the firemen had an enormous task. Wherever the great heat caused tho woodwork to ignite, the sheets of corrugated iron had to be torn off. In some cases huge holes were burnt before the fire could be got at. The flames got right through the roof of the two-storied wooden building adjoining the D.I.C. in Brandon street, occupied by Mr W. R. Bock (engraver), Messrs Andrae and Co. (commission agents), and Messrs Walter Geo and Co. (window-blind manufacturers), and did considerable damage at the rear of the first floor. This building is the leasehold property of the company, and it is there that Mr A. A. Corrigan has established his temporary office. MR CORRIGAN INTERVIEWED.

Mr A. A. Corrigan, local manager for the D.1.C., on being interviewed, stated that the last person to leave the premises was Murphy, a “ locker,” . whose duty it was to visit every portion of the building before locking up. There had been a slight smell of burning noticed in the building, but this was not unusual, as such smells efteinentered the premises from outside. It was not, however, passed unnoticed. A shopwalker and another assistant made a complete detour of the building, with no result, and when in communication with Mr Corrigan (at 9.25 pan.) did not think the matter worth reporting. Subsequent to this Murphy went over the building twice before leaving, and, discovering nothing unusual, locked up and left the premises at 10.50 p.m., reporting to the manager by telephone that all was well. Some of the assistants were working late on account of the sale which was to have commenced on Thursday morning. THE MANAGER’S THEORY. Mr Corrigan said lie could only suggest that the outbreak was caused by the fusing of an electric light wire. The wires throughout the building were not laid along the ceiling under wooden channels, as is generally the case, but were run between the ceilings and the floors, so that a wire becoming fused might possibly ignite the flooring or joists without it becoming immediately noticeable. That was the only possible way he could account for the outbreak, as he had the greatest reliance in the “lockers.” Mr Corrigan states that the books and cash of the firm—contained in three large safes —are intact. . Mr Corrigan states that the local branch of the D.I.C*. employs between 225 and 300 hands, according to the season. There could not be far short of the latter number employed at- present. Repeat orders for stocks destroyed were cabled Home on Thursday morning. In the meantime ordinary lines will be replaced at once from, the Christchurch and Dipiedin branches. A stock of new seasords goods by the Papanui is intact-. The furniture factory at Berhampore and the upholstery factory m Panama street are prepared to execute all orders. Fresh premises will at once be secured —possibly the premises in Brandon street recently vacated by the City Council —'and Mr Corrigan expects to be ready to do business by Thursday next at the latest. The building was carefully safeguarded from fire. There were twelve or fourteen fire-plugs, with lengths of hose attached, in different parts of the building, and the fireplaces were protected by concrete or asbestos. THE INSURANCES. The total insurances covering tho D.I.C. property amount to £85,700, divided as follows : £ Stock .... 60,000 Building ... 21,500 Fittings and fixtures ... 3,800 Plate-glass 400 Glass and lead-light verandahs 800 Tliis amount is held by the following companies:— £ Lloyd's (London) 28,700 Central (London) 2,000 Alliance 4,500 Commercial Union ... 2,000 Guardian 2,500 Liverpool, London & Globe 4,000 London and Lancashire ... 1,500 Law, Union and Crown ... 1,000 Northern ... ... 3,000 New Zealand 6,000 North British and Commercial 1,500 North Queensland ... 2,000 Norwich Union ... ... 3,000 National ... ... ... 1,000 Phoenix ... 1,500 ltoyal ... 6,000

jt Royal Exchange 3,500 Standard 1,500 South British ... *.. 2,500 Sun 4,000 United 1,500 Yorkshire 2,000 Victoria ... 500 <£85,700 INSURANCES ON THE ECONOMIC. The insurances on the Economic amount to £18,700, which is distributed as follows: .£ New Zealand ... ... 2,000 Royal Exchange ... 2,000 Commercial Union ... 1,600 Alliance 1,500 Norwich Union ... ... 1,500 Guardian ... ... ... 1,500 Imperial ... ... 1,000 Law. Union and Crown ... 1,000 Liverpool, London &, Globe 1,000 Sonth British ... ... 1,000 North British 1,000 Yorkshire ... ... 1,000 United ... ... ... 600 Phoenix ... ... ... 500 Victoria ... ... ... 500 Australian Alliance ... 500 North Queensland ... ... 500 Total 18,700 MISCELLANEOUS. The D-I.C*. property is held on a lease from the City Council. The D.I.C. (Drapery and ’ General Importing Company) commenced business in Wellington in ’ 1899. The original brick building was erected by Mr Thomas Carmichael, but has since been extended in many directions. All that is Left of the building is the brick walls facing Panama and Brandon streets, and the brick partitions that divided the main portions of the building. Until a thorough inspection is made-, it will, not be known how much of tbes-e walls will be allowed to remain standing. Viewed from the roof at the rear of the Economic, many cracks are visible towards the top of the long brick partition, and in the flanking brickwark of the Brandon street frontage of the three,-storied portion of the building. This part of the wall is considered so dangerous that the street opposite was ordered by the City Engineer to be roped off. An adequate inspection of all the walls will be made when the debris is cleared’away. The whole of the firm’s stock of pianos were destroyed, and only the skeletons of some of the “uprights” remain. An enormous quantity of water must have been played on the fire, for the cellar, extending under the greater part of the building, is almost full. A startwill be maclo to-day to pump it dry, in order to rescue as much of the stock stored below ground as possible. Hand pumps were used by the brigade in subduing the fires on the adjoining roofs in order to minimise, as far as possible, the damage to stock. In regard to a statement that has been made that ten minutes elapsed from the time the fire alarm was given until the brigade arrived on the scene, Superintendent Hugo states that no such delay took place. At the outside, in- less than four minutes the brigade was at the fire. Mr Corrigan states that fully half the employees of the D.I.C. will be thrown out of work for some time. It will be impossible to employ the full staff until the business is once more established upon the extensive lines that the fire has temporarily destroyed. THE ECONOMIC. A walk through the Economic building showed clearly that the fire had entered through a skylight immediately above the Manchester department. Mr ICersley himself was on the scene about 5 o’clock, and first discovered that the flames had found their way into the building over the top of the intervening brick wall. Assisted by Messrs J. and A. Smith, of the New House, Cuba street, and a number of employees who were attracted by the blaze, Air Kersley got to work with buckets and helped the brigade in no small degree. The fire seemed to have flicked through the greater part of the building, and the wonder is that the whole place was not destroyed. One can readily appreciate t-lie excellent work done by the brigade, looking at the huge stock of material which is now more or less damaged by water, fire, and smoke. Inside shelves laden with valuable cloth and goods of every description are black and charred. By far the worst damage was done in tho Manchester department, and the sections of the building wherein were stored the furnishing, carpet, and bulk goods—all on the ground floor. Upstairs considerable damage has been dono to the workrooms, millinery, and other departments. The showroom, on the ground floor, seems to have escaped, save for a little damage done by water. Interviewed by a, “Mail” reporter, Air lv ersley said his firm would soon settle with the lire insurance companies, and in a few days would hold a salvage sale of the entire stock. “Our loss is by no means a total one,” lie said, “and very shortly we will have business under way. I anticipate wo will reopen in a day or two. In the meantime our employees (numbering about 120) will be engaged sorting the stock and preparing for the sale.”

Mr Kcrsley was not prepaid to give any estimate as to the actual loss suffered by his firm, nor did he care to state offhand the value of the stock carried. This is the second great fire that lias occurred on the site of the D.I.C. The first happened before that company did business in Wellington—on Sunday, February 27th, 1887, when over half the block on which tho D.I.C. stood was destroyed, and tho damage was estimated at over £IOO,OOO. The principal sufferers on that occasion were Messrs Thompson and Shannon, drapery warehousemen, whose premises were situated on the spot now covered with smouldering debris. Other buildings affected were Laery and Campbells produce store, Huxley’s tailor’s shop and dwelling, Buckley, Stafford and Barton’s law offices, Parker and Co.’s drapery shoe and Alessrs Johnston and Co.’s bond. The fire was discovered at 8 o’clock on a calm morning, but the flames had obtained a powerful hold, and to add to the mischief the Wainui water supply had been cut off, and the only water available was from tho Polhill Gully reservoir. The brigade was assisted on that occasion by a squad of marines and sailors from the flagship Nelson, then lying in tha harbour. The total losses sustained by the insurance companies amounted to £63,050. AFTER THE CONFLAGRATION. Large crowds on Friday visited tho scene of the big fire in Panama and' Brandon streets. Marvel was expressed at the wonderfully clean sweep the flames made of the D.I.C. premises. Absolutely nothing in the centre and eastern portions of the building was spared, and of the western compartment only the boot and .shoe department is standing. Three cases of new boots were opened only the day before the fire. Of the sixty-eight cases of goods landed by the Papanui this week, thirty were in the cellar, in readiness for opening. The basement was pumped . out on Friday morning, and the saturated cases were hoisted out on to the street. The remainder are, fortunately, still in the Harbour Board’s sheds. Shelves full of crockery in the basement were blackened with the smoke, but otherwise unharmed. A walk through tlie ruins over heaps of still smouldering aiflies emphasised what an inferno had raged there. Heaps of half-burnt but totally destroyed dress pieces and dresses, skirts and blouses, calico and sheeting, blouses and dainty goods for evening wear, boxes of gloves, piles of haberdashery, lay smothered in mounds of ashes. Where the carpet and linoleum department was there is now a regiment of blackened rolls of linoleum standing on end. The Brandon street parapet of the centre and tallest part of the building is dangerously cracked op both sides. Oln the eastern side a large mass of brickwork has fallen away, carrying with it the inside steel brace that- held that side to the front wall. The brace on the western side is still in position, and it looks as if that alone holds up the cracked side of the parapet. There is considerable danger of this falling, especially in case of a gale springing up. The staff of the Economic were kept busy on Friday behind closed doors, clearing up the appalling mess made by fire and water. By the evening their efforts had made a decided impression on the chaotic scene. The firm has secured the Skating Rink in Ingestre street-, and expresses were busy throughout the day carting the damaged goods to that building, where a salvage sale is to be held. The slightly damaged goods will be disposed of at a sale to be held on the premises. It is the intention of Alessrs George and Kersley to re-erect the back premises in brick, and plans for the new building are now being prepared by Alessrs Crichton and AlcKay. Air A. E. Kernot, manager of tho Australian Alliance Assurance Company, states that his company held no risk over the Economic. The Tourist Department got smartly to work with the repairs to their premises. The windows have been reglazed, and the exterior of the building is being scraped prior to repainting. Superintendent Hugo has something to say about the glass verandahs at either end of the D.I.C. building. There Avas a narrow wooden gallery running next the building on top of the Panama street A'-erandah, but this was \ r ery inadequate for the Avork of the brigade. On the Brandon street side there was nothing to gU r e foothold. A by-law—drafted at the instigation of Air Hugo— noAv exists, pro Aiding that glass A r erandahs must have a solid panel at either end for the lodgement of ladrdens, and a platform running the full length close to the building. Tho late premises of the Wellington Commercial Travellers’ and Warehousemen’s Club, in Hunter -street —a Corporation Leasehold —Imve been taken over by the D.I.C. The original leas© of this property was, strangely enough, held by the late Air Bendix Hallenstein, a funner director of the D.I.C.