FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11947, 22 January 1901, Page 5

FIRES.

LA RGB FIKE IN GhRLONG. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, January 21, (Received Jan. 21, at 9.45 a.m.) A block of business places has been burned down at Geelong, The damage is estimated at £16,000. (Psn United Pbess Association'.* SIARTON, January 21. Shortly after midnight a firo broke out in the front portion of David Hollnm's store at Hunterville, and quickly spread to the adjoining premises, Fifteen shops and the Argyle Hotel were burned to the ground, liie premises destroyed are as follows:—W, 0. Ilaueock, saddler; C, Bray, hairdresser; J. M'Kldowney, draper; the Argyle Hotel; Ryan, tailor; (he Argyle stables; li. E. Remington, chemist; Skerman and Co., new premisos; Mrs Currie, fruiterer; 6. W. D. Morris/ grocer; the Temperance IMI Library; Yuen Lee, fruiterer; J. W. Batt, dentist; and a portion of Harper's stables, A Chinaman's cabinetmaking shop was also destroyed. /Only three shops at the extreme end of Bruce street are now standing, flieso would have heon destroyed had the brigade not pulled down Harper's stables. At the other end of the street, large sheets of iron were placed against a portion of the Argyle stable.), This prevented the fire from attacking the Argyle Hall and the- shops adjoining. Messrs Ellis Bros, and Valder's store wa:< damaged considerably, and it was only with the assistance of wet blanket? that they saved the building from being destroyed. Tlio insurances nre not yet known. The damage by the Hunterville fire is estimated at £20,000. The following companies are interested, in amounts varying from £EOO to £1500:—United, Imperial, Alliance, Commercial Union, New Zealand. Standard, London and Liverpool, Australian Alliance, and Royal. WELLINGTON, January 21. Nearly all the fire insurance offices hold risks on the property destroyed by the fire at Hunterville this morning. The following are slated to be the accounts:—United o"ffice, £600 (J. M'Eldowney £400, G. W. D. Morris £75, Temperance Hall ni)d contents £125); •Standard, £3£o: £450; Imperial, £900; Australian Alliance, £550; Commercial Union, £450; Liverpool, London, and Lilph'e, £800; National, £350 ; North Queensland, £150. The New Zealand Company is understood to be interested to the oxtenfc of £2750, part of which, however, is reinsured. Tlio losses of the South British and Phoenix offices are not yet known. The Argyle Hotel, a large building of 50 rooms, was owned by Messrs T. and \Y. Young and Messrs Dwan Bros., of Wellington. AUCKLAND, January 21. A fire occurred in M'Nee's grocery shop, Te Aroha. The. premises were completely gutted. Insurance; United, £200 on the stock. - A bale of flax which became ignited in the D.I.C. factory, above the Princess Theatre in High street,* caused an alarm of fire to bo given to the i'ire Brigade station yesterday. The brigade turned out with expedition, but found that the damage dope was trifling.