DISASTROUS FIRE AT GISBORNE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVX, Issue 3130, 17 May 1897, Page 3

DISASTROUS FIRE AT GISBORNE.

A LARGE BLOCK OP BUILDINGS DESTROYED. “A FINE PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY.” “A FUSILLADE OF MUSKETRY." A FIREMAN BREAKS HIS LEG. THE INSURANCES, £11,875. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Gisborne, May 15. The most destructive fire that has occurred in Gisborne for many years broke nut this morning in a large block of buildin as in Gladstone road, occupied by M. Pettie, draper; Williams and Kettle, merchants; Bank of New South Wales, and W. D. Lysnar, barrister. The fire swept clean through the interior of these premises, attacking everything to the bare walls. It was 10 minutes past 5 when the alarm was raised, and by this time the flames filled Pattie’s showroom, which was crammed with light inflammable materials, and were bursting through the skylights in the roof. Mr Dodds, teller of the Bank of New South Wales, was probably the first to give the alarm. He was sleeping in a room at the back of the bank next door, and was awakened by the roar of fire. He had barely time to save a few bank papers and his own belongings. Fanned by a light, westerly breeze, the flames spread with amazing rapidity throughout the whole of Pottio’s premises into the bank on the one side and to Williams and Kettle’s, on the other, whilst the bond underneath, which was filled with large stocks of spirits, being all ablaze, gave body to the flame, and made any attempt to rave property included in the block futile.

To the leeward side, across Customhouse street, was the Post Office and Government Buildings, the largo wooden walls of which had to stand a great amount of heat, but water was played on them freely and the fire did not spread in that direction.

On the windward side there was the Union Bank, a large, two-story building, and its brick party walls were no doubt instrumental in saving it from damage. Both Pettie and AVilliams and Kettle held very large stocks, larger in fact than they have ever had, and they will consequently lose considerably over their insurances. The bank strong-room fortunately escaped damage, and all the books and paper valuables were recovered practically uninjured. Meesis Williams and Kettle’s and Lysuar’s strong-room, however, seems to have suffered by the fire, a large portion of its contents, valuable documents, etc., being charred or smoked. In Williams and Kettle’s were stored large quantities of spirits, and these burning caused a very fine pyrotechnic display. Williams and Kettle had also a good stock of cartridges and sportsmen’s gunpowder, which, as it exploded, sounded like a fusillade of musketry. The Gisborne Fire Brigade turned out very promptly, and soon had a big stream of water playing on the flames, but the flre had such a hold when it was discovered that it was impossible to make any salvage within the walls of the burning building.

Fireman James Thompson slipped when fixing a hydrant and broke the small-bone of one of his legs. The building was owned by Mr Edward Murphy, sheepfarmer, Te Aral. It is difficult to say how the fire originated.

Mr Pettie, when locking up his premises last night, satisfied himself that all was safe, and he cannot believe that the fire started in his place, but thinks it must have come from the cellar underneath. His shop was chock-full of new stock, which he values at £6OOO, £2OOO above the insurances. Williams and Kettle had a very largo stock of produce and general merchandise in their store. The previous afternoon they stored 160 sacks of oat§. It is impossible at short notice to make up the full value of the stock, but it is known to be considerable. The insurances are as follows:—Building, £3OOO, Royal. Pettie’o stock, £ISOO, Liverpool, London and Globe j £ISOO, Royal, including £7O on the fittings ; £IOOO Commercial Union, Williams and Kettle’s stock, in the main store. Northern, £750 ; Royal, £500; New Zealand, £1000; Standard, £500; Norwich Union, £500; National, £IOOO, of which £750 is for stock and £250 for fittings. The stock in the bond belonging to the Poverty Bay Farmers’ Co-operative Association, £2OO in the National. The stock in the bond belonging to Mr G. M, Matthewson, wine and spirit merchant, £2OO in National. Bank of New South Wales, £IOO, National, on stock, stationery and fittings. Lysnar, £125 in the North German, on the furniture and law books, most of which were saved. Total insurances, £11,875.