SERIOUS FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 7 April 1892, Page 19

SERIOUS FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

GttEYMotlra, April 2

At 3 o'clock this morning the premises of Eihon, chemist, on Mawhera quay, were found to be on fire. By the time the alarm was given the w hole shop waa burning fiercely, and when the fiic brigade ariived, and they were early on the scene, K. C. Forsyth's large ironmongery fctore was a mass of flames and quite beyond control. The brigade did all that men supplied with inadequate appliances could do to stay the conflagration, but a- breeze setting in from the. sea, the fire quickly spread to Williamson's grocery shop, and fronl thence to thu Bank of Naw South Wales l . At' this stage the fire was at its worst, the flames shooting up to a tremendous height, while the heat on the river embankment was almost unbearable. A determined effort was made to hold the fire at this point. At one time it seemed possible, but as only one engine could play the other being n quired to keep the flames from {spreading to the Bank of New Zealand, it was soon .jppanmt that Forsyth and Masters' (ironmongers), Holey and Taylor's (drapers), and the Natidnal Bjnk were doomed. A rope was got over the front of the National Bank and a line of men succeeded in pulling the parapetand front clean away and thus greatly reducing the material for burning. This, coupled with the fact that there was some spare ground between the National and Union Bauks, prevented the further spread of the fire. -The whole energy of the brigade was now directed to the isolation of the burning block at the Union Bank and saving a number of small buildings which, owing to the National Bank Jseing comparatively gutted, were ensily protected. But at the Bank of New Zealand 'corner the task was more severe. The large structure was on lire several times, while smoke was issuing from under the roof and windows. A lew determined lh-emen, assisted by a number of sailors from the s.s. Oreti, held the position again and again, beating back the flames from inside the buildings until the heat had sufficiently subsided to allow of a bit of hose being taken round by the back of Most' store, which was also on (ire, and then th'i worst was past.

So rapidly did the tire spread that not an article was saved from Elsou's or Forsyth's, Williamsoii's or the Bank of New South Wales, and the loss of premises and stock was therefore in those four instances most complete. The larger portion of Messrs Forsyth and Masters' stock Was saved, though a good deal of it wa-> damaged, Messrs Heley and Taylor's shop was cleared of almost everything, but a large portion of the goods were damaged by hasty removal, and the loss in this respect is considerable. Almost everything was got out of the National Bank. The Tramway Company's premises, which are part of Robert Forsj th's building-!, Were almost burned, all tho papers and documents being got out ; and thu goods shed, which was full of produce, was also cleared. This shed, though scorched, was not destroyed. Of the places damaged but nob burnt down, the Bank of New Zealand suffered most. The windows were all broken and the side and roof more or less scorched, us also the furniture, books, &c. Of the premises in Tainui street, Mr Mo^.s' store shows most c\ Science of the fire, the back being burnt to a cinder. All the goods, &c. were removed. Messrs Wylde and (Jo. did nut remove the staok at all, but Miss Ashton had everything removed. In Wareatea street Messrs Jones and Hanson's back office was cleared. The fire brigade, under the coutrol of Captain Revingtou, worked splendidly. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire, but the general opinion is that it broke out in Elson's. An inquiry will likely be held. . The losses, so far as can be ascertained, are : —Mr R. Forsyth, loss, L 6500; insurance LIOOO, store and stcck LISOO. Mr Williams, loss, L 2970; insurance, LIB7O. Mr Elson, loss, L 60 0; insurance, L3OO. The National Bank cannot yet compute tho loss, but it is coveied by insurance. The Bank of New South Wales has LBOO of insurance, and caunot as yet estimate the loss, but it is at least L2OOO. Holey and Taylor, loss, L 350 0; insurance, L 2050. Forsyth and Masters cannot yet e'stiraate their loss.

The insurances, so far as can yet be obtained, are : — New Zealand Company : Bank of New Zealand, L 2500 (of which L.1500 is reinsured) ; Williamson, L 30 0; Heley ami Taylor, LIOO. Union Company : Reinsured for the New Zealand Company on the Bank of New Zealand, L 250 ; Heley and Taylor, L 250 ; R. C. Forsyfch, L 250. Phoenix Company: R. C. Forsyth, L 250; Forsyth and Masters, LSOO. South

British: Forsytn arid Masters, LS0O; Elson, L 100; Williamson, L 270; reinsured in the New Zealand Company for the Bank of New Zealand, LSOO. Victoria Company : National Bank, L 30 0; Forsyth and Masters (stock), L 35 0; R. C. Forsyth (stock), L 250. North German Company: R. O. Forsyth (stock), L 500; Williamson (buildings]), L 30 0; reinsured for National, LSO. Norwich Union : Heley and Taylor, L4OO ; reinsured for tho National, L2OO. Imperial Company : R. C. Forsyth, stock, L 25 0; R. C. Forsyth, building, L 25 0; Forsyth and Masters, LSOO on stock. Northern: Forsyth and Masters, stock, L 25 0; R. C. Forsyth, L 250 on stock and LSO on buildings. Commercial Union : Heley and Taylor, L2OO on stock ; Forsyth and Masters, L 275 on stock and L2OO on building. Royal • Company : Elson, LIOO on stock ; Forsyth and Masters, LSOO on stock ; Williamson, LSOO on stock ; Heley and Taylor, L3OO on building ; Forest, LSO ; R. C. Forsyth, L 250 on stock.

April 3. The insurances already wired are fairly correct : — Fannin's chemist shop was insured for LIOO in the London and Liverpool and Globe ; and Heley aud Taylor's for L4OO in the Norwich Union.