BIG FIRE AT NELSON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16964, 28 March 1917, Page 5

BIG FIRE AT NELSON

——— FOUR BUSINESS PREMISES destroyed: GOOD WORK BY FIRE BRIGADBL J • •. ,»♦ DAMAGE NOT YET ESTIMATED. ' CPn UaiTXD Puksb Associatiok.) ■ rr , . NELSON, March 27. The most disastrous fire that h-i" occurrec in Nelson for many years broko out -in t block 'of wooden shops in TVafadgar street to-niglit. The premises of Lightband. , anc Co. (boot and shoe importers), Jackson Vane Co., Limited (booksellers and stationers) and VV. C. Anseil (chemist) were totally destroyed, as also were th<; bulk stores ol ]'j. iiuxton and Co. (Limited), ironmonger! and general merchants, running behind th( premises mentioned. Buxton's main build ing, a large brick structure, separated fron Jackson's by a. narrow right-of-way, was foi a long timo in great danger, the fire, repeatedly breaking into tho top Boor, bufc- : th< strenuous efforts of the brigade preventec the spread of the flanges in this direction and Co.'s loss, as far as the riinir building j s concerned, being confined tc that due to smoke and water. On:/ this u°mj- ro was chocked by a now Brict building, owned by Brown Bros., and 6bdd ; pied by _ Tratlien and Co., drapers. Thi dajjuige in these premises is light, and wju wholly caused by heat and smoke. A lajK from Jackson's, Lightband's, and Buxton') bulk stores was impassable, but some pi Anseil s stock was got out. - f; Ihe damage will run into'many thousand! of pounds, but estimates have not yet bcezj arrived at. Details of the ' insurances aw not available to-night, but those on' Light band's stock and Jackson and Co.'s Jbuild ing and stock are all in the Alliance. Bux ton's are in the New Zealand officc. Tht fire brigade worked splendidly, but waJ hampered for some time at a critical stage of the fire by an inadequate water supply. ,