FIRE IF GREAT KING STREET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8821, 3 June 1890, Page 2

FIRE IF GREAT KING STREET.

Tho firo which broke out in a etabla in Great King street yesterday morning just us we were going to press, did not, ha we anticipated, spread to any extent, owing to ths efforts of the firo brigades. The stable is situate at tbe rear of Me J. Gillies' furniture factory, King street, and was owned by Mrs W. H. Cutten, of Anderson's Bay, Mr W. J. Metcalf, who lisa tbe contract for the collection of the pillar bix mails in the city end suburbs, being in occupation of it. Mr Matcalf states that he went to the stable, a 6 was his custom, about a quarter to 4 yesterday morning to get a horse on which to do his early round. He left the stable at 10 minutes to 4, and had proceeded as far as the pillar near the Botanical Gardens when the iire bell rung. A boy named Smith, assisting Mr Metcalf in tho stable, was ettending to the horses about the I same time as Mr Metcalf nud left five minutes after him, everything then appearing safe. He used a lantern when going about bis work, but it was closed in on all sides, and no sparks could have fallen from it. At 4 o'clock the fire broko out, just five minutes after tho boy left. The City Brigado and the Railway Brigade, together with the Salvage Corps, were on tho scene within a reasonable time, and at once threw a good volume of water on the flames. Several persons exerted themselves to save tbe horses, and two belonging to Messrs Martin and Watson, one to Mr Doodeward, and two to Mr Metcalf were driven out, but five others, the property of Mr Metcalf, it was found impossible to save, aDd they were burnt. The effort 3of the brigade men were successful in preventing the flames spreading, but an old store, owned by Mrs Beck, a stack of figured pine belonging to Mr Gillies, and rooms at the rear of the factory occupied by Mr A. Gardner, caretaker, were considerably damaged bofore the brigade could turn their attention to them. It is impossible to say how the firo originated. The property destroyed' consists of portion of the stable, five horses, a mail cart, harness, a largo quantity of chaff and oats, a shed, and a stack of timber, the total value of which is roughly estimated nt closo on £200. Mrs Cutten had an insurance in the New Zealacd office for £30 over the portion o£ the stables destroyed; Mr Metcalf had a policy for £250 in the North Germau office, made up of £175 on horses, £50 on feed, £10 on harness, and £15 on the mail cart—his loss being about £40 above insurance; and Mr Gardner's furniture, damaged to the extent of about £30, was insured in the Northern office for £100. The timber belonging to Mr Gillies (valued at £50) was not insured; neither was tho shed belonging to Mrs Beck.