A SERIOUS FIRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10919, 28 September 1897, Page 4

A SERIOUS FIRE.

(Pkr United P.ress Association.)

Invercakgill, September 27.

Shortly after 8 p.m. a fire broke out in the wholesale stores of Messrs: Thomson; Bridger, and Co. in Spey street, on the west side of the town, immediately opposite thegaol/and owing to the inflammable nature of Uieir contents it speedily cleared about half an acre of-buildings.' Practically nothing was'sayijd, all the buildings being of wood. The fire originated;in'bfy.southwest corner,which wastn'e old : , Garrison H»!], and.bad advanced so fa£ before the brigade got to work that;the frintxf :the bW^immeaiately fell'out.-A stroug south-rftsb'vfiud was.blowiag, and carried the lire through the buildin£s\wit-h prodigious rapidity, a largft stock' of-.kerosene being early set ablaze. TheiGarrieoir Hill was id great danger for some tiizie, it haviflg a:; row of windows high up. in a brick wall facing the fire, but the Railway Brigade goioeiweSjri the two places and pushed the burning wall. over. The fire . was. • a -very - ugly ' one,; being to the wiudward of the town,(with a number of old wcoden buildings between it and Dcs sfcest. A large iroa shed containing timber,' immediately at the rear of the Garrison Hall, took fire iiiUUe roof, but is being watched. " The firm have a watchman, who discovered the fire and immediately removed the explosives. The buildings, including the timber shed still standing, belong to W. Quthvie and Co. in liquidation, and were insured as at the 15th February for £2300—ia the North German office for £500, in the Royal for £800, in the Sun foe £500, aud in the Pkceuixfor£soo. Messrs ThoniaoD, Bndf?er, and Co 'a stock was insured as at the 26th July for £5750—in the Oommevcial Union for £2000, Imoerial for £1000, North German for £1000, Norwich Union for £500, .Royal Exuhauga for £800, Palatine for £400, and South Briton for £250.; As the firm were selling off .M«s«s Gufchrie and Co.'s stock and otherwise disposing of it the insurances were being zeduced.lt being said that £2000 was,; knocked off tha above figures recently. . .. :