DISASTROUS FIRE IN THAMES STREET.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 900, 5 March 1879, Page 2

DISASTROUS FIRE IN THAMES STREET.

The largest fire that lias occurred in Oaniaru for some years broke out about midnight last night in Cogvin's boardinghouse. The fire was first discovered by Constable Durrant, who, from the opposite side of the street, noticed what he considered a light in one of the windows of some small rooms over the kitchen of, as he says, too bright a nature to be produced by a candle. The whole of the inmates of the house were in bed at the time, and though the constable knocked loudly for some time he failed to arouse anyone inside. Finally he burst open one of the doors at the rear of the building, and then discovered a small fire in a loft over the kitchen. We are assured by the constable that had assistance been promptly rendered and a supply of water available the fire might then have been easily extinguished ; but water was not t<> be found, and it was some time before he could arouse any of the inmates. The consequence was that before anything could be done the lire had obtained such a hold that, with only a small ladder to ascend to the scene by, and but poor means of getting into the loft, it was found impossible to cope with the flames. The alarm was at once given, and attention directed to the removal of the furniture. Within a few minutes the whole building was in a blaze, but still most of the furniture, &c. , was got out. In a short time a large concourse of people had gathered at the scene of the conflagration. There was no means of checking the flames, and it soon became apparent that the adjoining buildings must inevitably be destroyed. Mr. Currie's grain and produce store and Mr. Swinard's tobacconist's shop were broken open, and as much of their contents as possible removed ; but, for some reason, the police would not, as requested, consent to Mr. Lippert's shop being broken into until that gentleman's arrival. The result was that when the shop was broken, open eventually there was not time to remove anything like the whole of its contents, and the portion that was got out was much damaged through the hurried and somewhat careless manner in which it was removed. The inmates of Keenan's boarding-house, becoming aware of the imminent danger in which that building stood, at once commenced taking out its contents, the whole of which was very soon removed into the street. From Cogvin's, the flames rapidly spread to Currie's, the boot shop adjoining, Swinard's, Lippert's, and Keenan's, the whole of which became one mass of flames before one o'clock, casting a lurid glare over the whole town. The buildings being all formed of wood and iron, the fire burned with groat rapidity, and in a short time the whole of the buildings mentioned were levelled to the ground, but still the fire burned with great fierceness, the heat thrown out being iitensc. For some time Messrs. Jack, fkcei, and Hendry's agricultur.il implement manufactory was in imminent danger of being included in the list of buildings destroyed, but the progress of the flames in that direction were checked by the stone wall of Cogvin's building, aided by a copious supply of water, thrown on the roof by means of buckets.* A large portion of the contents of the factory were however previously removed, the street being filled with all manner of things. On the Coquet street side the small buildings next to Keenan's were also in danger for some time, and here the removal of furniture, &c, was deemed expedient, but fortunately the flames did not spread any further in this direction, probably owing to the large space intervening between Keenan's boarding house and the adjoining buildings, and to the more important fact that there was scarcely a breath of air. It was indeed a fortunate circumstance that a strong wind was not blowing, for had there been there is no telling where the flames would have stopped Without doubt the whole of the buildings between Coquet and Eden streets must have been consumed, and those in Coquet street would doubtless have shared the same'fate, while the fire might have extended along Thames street in a southerly direction. The want of water was greatly felt, for had there been a supply available, with proper appliances for extinguishing fires, the fire might have been confined to Cogvin's house. Even those who oppose the water supply scheme must have recognised how great a blessing the water will prove when introduced. The crowd worked very well in saving property from destruction, but the rough manner in which mo3t of it was removed showed the necessity for some properly-trained body of men to take. charge of such work. One circumstance in connection with the removal of goods i 3 worth}- of mention. Mr. Currie had left some L3G in the drawer of a table in Ill's store. The table had been removed prior to his arrival, but on his subsequently looking in the drawer for his money he found the whole sum as he had left it. Seeing that a large portion of this was loose silver, and that its presence must have been known to those who removed the table, it speaks volumes for the honesty of the workers. The following are the complete insurances as far as we are able to learn : South British : Ll5O on Mr. Lippert's building (including Mr. Swinard's shop), LSO on the fittings, and L 350 on the

stock; LBOO on Mr. Cogvin's buildings 1 (re-insured in the Norwich Union to the extent of L 500), and L3OO on the furniture. New Zealand : L 350 on Mr. Keenan's Buildings, and L 75 on Mr. Swinard's stock. Victoria/: L2OO on Mr. Currie's buildings (including the boot shop), and L3OO on "the stock. Both Mr. Lippert and Mr. Ourrie are severe losers, as their stocks were worth considerably more than the amount of their insurances, while only a small portion, and that not the most valuable, was saved in each case. - We have endeavored in vain to obtain some idea as to how the fire originated, but the matter seems to be enshrouded in mystery. We believe an inquiry will be held. The blackened mass was still smouldering when we went to press.