FIRE AT SOUTH DUNEDIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6189, 9 December 1881, Page 4

FIRE AT SOUTH DUNEDIN.

About half-past 5 o'clock yesterday morning a firo broke out in a row of wooden buildings situated at the corner of the Main road and Argyle street, whereby three woodon buildings belonging to Messrs James and Thos, Foster were complotoly destroyed, and a brick house and wooden stable, owned by Mr John Barry, imrtially so, the amount of damagodonc boing estimated at £1200. The centre building was a double one of two storeys, divided by a brick wall, and containing seven rooms and two shops ; and in the southern portion—occupied by Mr John Alfred Jackson as a hardware shop—the fire broke out. Mr Jackson, who did not reside on the premises, states that he left about 8 o'clock on the previous evening, when there was a fire in the back kitchen, from which some live coal probably fell over on the floor, setting it on fire. Mr Jackson had his stock insured in the New Zealand office' for £100, and estimates his loss at £00 above that amount. The double building, the other portion of which was unoccupied, was the property of Mr Thomas Foster, and was insured for £300 in the Standard and £100 in the National, but he estimates his loss at £100 above that amount. The fire spread on the south side to an adjoining building belonging to Mr James Foster, and also insured in the Standard for £250. This building, which included a shop and three rooms, was partly occupied as a draper's shop by William Lennon, who succeeded in saving his stock. The owner of the building estimates his loss at £350 above his insurance. On the north side the three-roomed brick cottage owned and occupied by Mr John Barry, contractor, also # caught fire, and although the United Fire Brigade rendered good service in staying the progress of .the fire at this stage, the building was almost entirely gutted, tho furniture, however, being saved. The end of an adjoining wooden stable was also considerably burned. Mr Barry holds a policy, for £200 in the Australian Alliance on the house, and estimates his loss at £200 over that amount. The stable and harness wore also insured in the same office. The fire was first of all discovered by Mr Hugh M'Cutcbeon, who who saw smoke issuing from the back of the building in which the fire originated. He then aroused the inmates, the fire meanwhile spreading rapidly. Owing to the imperfect means of alarm, and the difficulty of getting on water, three-quarters of an hour had elapsed before the Fire Brigade were in a position to render any assistance.