SPECIAL TELEGRAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5267, 6 January 1879, Page 3

SPECIAL TELEGRAM. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Oamaru, January sth. _ A fire occurred about 12 o'clock last night in a shop in Waitaki building, owned, I believe, by Buttorworth Brothers, Dunedin, and occupied by Solomon, music-seller. It ia a portion of the largest block of stone buildinga in Thames street, and in the centre of retail business places. The fire was discovered by Mr Lindsay, who was passing at the time. There was no ono living on the premises, and he, with tho assistance of a few others, broke open the side door, and found the greater portion of the interior of the shop on fire, though the small amount of woodwork in the building prevented the fire assuming gigantic proportions. Tho sholving and beams of the upper storey were on fire, but with tho ma of buckets of water the fire was extinguished. A large amount of stock, consisting of' pianos, harmoniums, &c, was destroyed, and the remaining portion more or less damaged, for although several pianos and other things were removed, they suffered considerably from the indiscriminate manner in which water was thrown about. The building was not greatly injured, the fire being chiefly confined to the ahop fittings. Had the building been one of wood a-serious conflagration must have occurred, for there are no means of extinguiahing a fire, and very little water is obtainable. It has not been ascertained if the building waa insured. Solomon's stock was insured in the Sonth British for LIOOO, but this amount cannot cover his loss. How the fire originated is a mystery. Solomon estimates hia stock to have been worth L 2300.