LARGE FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2379, 5 October 1899, Page 17

LARGE FIRE IN SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, September 30.

A big fire was discovered at 3 o'clock this morning at the premises of W. E. Smith, wholesale manufacturing stationer and printer, a six-storey brick buildijig in Bridge street. This building is in the centre of a large block, including the P. and 0., Huddart-Parker, North German, Messageries Maritimes, and a number of other large shipping and commercial companies.

Smith's premises and the two top floors of the P. and 0. Company were gutted, and the others severely damaged by fire and water.

There was an immense crowd in the streets. All the inmates are safe, though some remarkable escapes are reported. The fire made a magnificent spectacle, the city and harbour being brilliantly lit by the flames. The burning debris was carried for long distances. The wind was light, otherwise there must have been a tremendous conflagration. The skeleton of a large new building the Smiths were erecting helped to prevent its spread. The whole metropolitan and suburban brigades were engaged in the fight. Smiths' very large and valuable stock suffered, and the damage is immense ; but it is believed that the loss is mostly covered by the insurances. The caretakers, their wives, and two officers were asleep at the time, and were got out with difficulty in their nightclothes.

The fire originated in Smith's composing room, on the forth floor. The damage from, the fire is confined to Smith's four top storeys and the floors of the latter, which were let as offices. The damage from water is very extensive. Amongst the sufferers, besides the shipping companies, are Houlder Bros., the Queensland Packing Company, Bergyl (meat exporters), Parbury, Henty, and Co. (merchants), Harvey and Co. (tea merchants), J. T. Brown (mercantile broker), Lohmann and Co. (wool brokers), Mort's Dock Company's offices, Gorsefc Engine Company (wool brokers), Lever Bros, (soap manufacturers), Siemens Company (electrical engineers), and Harper and Henderson (consulting engineers). It is impossible to

estimate the loss, but it will amount to many thousands. The insurances on Smith's stock amount to £24,250, including £3000 in the National office and £1000 in the South British office. The building is insured for £9000. The P. and O. Company's building .is insured for £33,000. October 1. A fire destroyed 15 wooden business premises in the main street oi Kiama. A gale was blowing at the time. There^is no fire brigade in the town, and the fire was only checked by razing intervening buildings and a sudden change of wind.