CONFLAGRATION IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6272, 19 May 1881, Page 2

CONFLAGRATION IN AUCKLAND.

SEVERAL BUILDINGS IN QUEENSTREET DESTROYED. Aucklaitd, April 21At 5 o’clock this morning a disastrous lire broke cut in Queen-street, the scene being it block occupied by Mrs. Coßter (milliner), Whitehead (tobacconist), Cole (basket-maker). Mason Bros (hairdressers), T. Harris (tobacconist, and Patterson’s store and sb hies. Constable Dews, who was on wharf, saw the lire suddenly burst out, as if au explosion had taken place, and immediately the whole of the shed near Whitehead’s bowling saloon was in flames. The fire could not he reached from Queen-street, and the constable could do but little. The fire brigade were quickly out, and played on the premises, but before they had got well tu work, Harris's and. Mason’s shops, in Queen street, were in a blaze. The Auckland Savings Bank, adjoining, was in great danger, but every effort was made to keep the fire hack from it. After a great struggle the fire in Mason's and Harris’s premises was got under. The Bank was then safe ; bat in the meantime the fire spread in the other direction, catching in turn Whitehead’s and Coster’s preici es, Patterson’s stables, and Payne's watchmaker’s shop. The next effort put the lire out in Payne’s shop, which had been cleared of goods by the -Salvage frorps. The brigade succeeded in chocking the fire by chopping down the partition and using a copious supply of water. The buildings between the Bank and Payne’s - shop;, being all wooden structures, were continually breaking out afresh, and the firemen had great difficulties to contend with, owing to the falling beams, as they had to work underneath verandahs. A small hosiery establishment ignited from the sparks, hut the fire was put out before anv damage was done. Fortunately no horses were in the stable s . But little or nothing was saved from anv of, the shops except

'Payne’s. The fire burned brightly for over I • two hours, when it assumed the condition of | smouldering ruins. # The following ia the corrected list of insurances at the fire ;—The block of buildings was owned by R. C. Earstow, Costley, and Mason Brothers, the latter having an insurance of £BOO on two shops adjoining the Auckland Savings Bank. The two former gentlemen are, so far as ascertained, quite uninsured. Insurances on the stock alone are—Harris, £6OO, Colonial (half reinsured); Patterson, £IOO, Colonial; Mason’s buiMing, which _ includes Harris’s shop, insured for £SOO in South British, and Mason’s baths, stock, fixtures, and machinery, for £3OO in the British, The loss is double. Payne, £2CO in South British ; Coster, £IOO, Colonial ; Whitehead, £IOO United, and £IOO Northern (in addition to £l6O on bowling-alley in Norwich ; Uuuno, Hall and Co. (estimated loss), £5 ; Cole, unfortunately uninsured, held the lease of his own and 'Whitehead's shop from Costley, of -which lease there was a period of three years yet to run ; Xbryne’s stock was saved ; Patterson (whose stock was partially destroyed) only claims one-half the insurance. Total loss sustained by the insurance companies : —South British £IOOO (less salvage of Payne’s stock) ; Colonial, £BOO ; United, £IOO ; Northern, £1()0 ; Norwich, £IOO ; Union, £oo. -total, £3150. __