GREAT FIRE AT INVERCARGILL. INVERCARGILL, May 4.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 47

GREAT FIRE AT INVERCARGILL. INVERCARGILL, May 4.

A fire was discovered shoitly after 11 p.m. in the Theatre block in Dee street, on the west side. A gusty wind blowing from that dhection filled the street with smoke, and it was '""some time before the seat of the iire was in Messrs Thomson, Bridger, and Co.'s ironmongery shop. It began at the rear of the upstairs store, and shortly afterwards au explosion blew the windows out, and it is supposed, also a bit of a partition wall. Messrs Thomson, Bridger, and Co.'s stock was destroyed, the roof having fallen in, - while the roof of Mr R. Gray's clothing shop to the south is now (11.35 p.m.) on fire. This is the shop adjoining the theatre. To the north are Ekensteen and Co.'s, the upstairs rooms of which appear to be invaded. The same area was burned out some 16 years ago. The buildings are all of brick.

Midnight. The fire shows no sign of abatement. The firemen have been driven out of Messrs Thomson, Bridger, and Co.'s upper storey, which is now on fire to the street line.

The fire is now (12.30) under control. It was confined to the upper flats of Messrs Thomsonf Bridger, and Co.'s and Gray's premises, which are gutted, while the stocks in the main shops suffered severely. The insurances are not procurable. A strong wind made the firemen's work arduous.

The Southland Times says that Messrs Thomson, Bridger, and Co. are known to be heavy losers by Friday night's fire in Invercargill, as they had just opened two large shipments of goods and were carrying unusually heavy stocks without additional insurance. Ekensteen Bros, and Co.'s premises, adjoining, to the north, were damaged to a considerable extent, the roof — a, slate one — having cracked with the heat and caught fire, but that was promptly extinguished. Large quantities of their stock were damaged by water. Owing to the conflicting information available, it is difficult to' tell how or where the fire originated, but those who were earliest on the sceno are inclined to the belief that it started in Thomson, Bridger, and Co.'s office on tho upper floor. Mr Allan, the manager, says there was a fire in the clerk's office, but this would have burned low when the employees left at 6 o'clock. Mr Gray and his family, who lived in the back part of the Economic building, adjoining Messrs Thomson, Bridger, and Co.'s store, saved none of their personal effects. Thomson, Bridger, and' Co.'s premises are

owned by Mr Alexander Mair, and Mr Gray owns the Economic.

The following are insurances: — Thomson, Bridger, and Co.: On the stock — South British, £2000; Commerical Union, £1000; Imperial, £750; Sun, £500; National, £500. On the building— Sun, £500 ; Royal Exchange, £500. The salvage is comparatively small. On Gray's stock— South British, £500; Northern, £600. On the building — Norwich Union, £1500. Estimated loss, £2000. On Ekensteen's stock — Norwich Union, £500 ; Victoria, £500; Royal, £500: New Zealand, £500. On the building— £4oo in the New Zealand.