BIG FIRE AT GORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2603, 3 February 1904, Page 58

BIG FIRE AT GORE.

.VALUABLE BUILDINGS DESTROYED

PAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £30,000.

(Fbom Oub Own Corkespondent.)

GORE, January 29. Of recent years Gore has been the scene of several disastrous fires, but early yesterday morning it "was the scene of a conflagration that eclipsed anything of the kind iwhioh has occurred previously. The fine ■block of buildings known as Mac Gibbon's, along with Holland's Arcade, erected not Oong ago on the scene of a previous fire, (were completely burned out. The fire started in a milliner's shop tenanted by a BMlss Cotter, and was noticed shortly after midnight by a member of the Southern Standard etaff. He ran back to the otiice and gave tihe alarm, and no time was lost in getting out the fire engine. Once the flames got hold they spread with extraordinary irapidity, spreading from Mise Cotters shop to the other part of the building, tenanted (by Mr Gatehotise (draper), and th© rear portion facing the Arcade, occupied by Mr C. Henderson (tailor). The brigade by this ftime had taken the engine to the well opposite tihe Arcade, and after a short wait got tito work. The night was. perfectly still, rrthere being an entire absence of wind 1 , and the one hose, to which the scarcity of /water confined the brigade, played water on the front of the building to such good purpose that the flames were almost extinguished, and the danger of them spreading Up the street almost averted. 3efore the engine began to work it ■eemed a certainty that the shop of Mr R. •Buchanan (grocer) and Mr J. Jamie's '(jeweller) would ignite. The flames were then confined to the shops beihind Miss Cotter's, one of which /iros tenanted by Mr C. Henderson (tailor), and the other used as a store and Bhow shop by the Federal Co. Here the fire .was more difficult to combat, the dense smoke gathering in the Arcade, the increasing shortage of water and the absence of the electrio light, which made a belated appearance, all combining to make the brigade's task one of extreme difficulty. Almost within grasp of conquering the fire the water gave out. Another 10 minutes and the flames would have been extinguished, md the destruction of thousands of pounds' ■worth of property averted. A cessation of the pumping was necessary, and the flames speedily gathered fresh strength. An Anxious 10 minutes followed while the water percolated with exasperating slowness into the well. Then the engine again got to work, but the- flames had got the mastery, -- »nd the dribbling current of water was futile in checking their career. The fire Roared and crackled through the Arcade, licking up everything with its fiery tongue, „ tod, to crown the disaster, the water gave 1 out entirely just as a breeze arose. Fanned by the wind, the flames were no time in - getting through the Arcade and bursting out at Mrs Kenning's shop, completely gut- . ting the whole 26 shops constituting tnc 'Arcade buildinge — Lamborn's bicycle sho;., foHowed by that of Carr (tobacconist), JVJrs •Mulhare (fruiterer), M'Conachy (billiard saloon), Burley (furniture dealer), Mrs Ken- - cinq (refreshment rooms), J. S. Neave (solicitor), M'Donald (draper*, City Grocery Store, Lawlor (butcher), and the upstairs portion, i -ceupied by W. F. Inder (solieitoi')The engine was then taken to the river, and precious time was lost in joining old pieces of hose together to make it reach. In the meantime the sto?k of M'Donald had almost been saved, and to a great extent ithat of Mrs Kenning. Burley and Co. saved some articles, and Inder rescued most, if not all, of his legal documents. With these exceptions, all the stocks carried in the Arcade were completely destroyed. Before Mac Gibbon's caught, the water to come through the hose from the river, but the puny stream could do nothing towards checking the fire. The flames 'leaped out of the upper windows half way across Mersey street, and efforts were concentrated on saving M'Gruer's cshop opposite. For a while that place seemed l doomed, the scorching head and billows of flame gaining in power and volume every moment. When further disaster seemed ' imminent the remaining roof of the Arcade fell with a terrific crash, throwing myriads of lurid sparks high into the air, but it was ' probably the salvation of M'Gruer's and the block of buildings below. The flames lost I..the1 ..the influence of the breeze with the falling--in of the roof, and the efforts in the way of blanketing the windows and playing water thereon kept the fiend at bay. Attention was then turned to the Southland Hotel, where grave danger threatened. *Tb.e application of water to the windows kept the fire at bay, and the breeze, losing its force, enabled the building to be saved. While the brigade was concentrating its 'efforts to keep M'Gruer's intact, the flames were gradually eating their way up Mam street, and found their way into the 6 hop of Buchanan (grocer) and Jamie (jeweller). The stocks had been removed, but the building was eaten right out. Then it spread into Simon's boot store, destroying tho greater portion of the stock. By th.s time the danger of the Southland Hotel and M'Gruer's buildings igniting was removed. and the efforts of the brigade were turned towards checking the course of the fire up - Main street. Its progress was arrested in Steans's tobacconist shop, very little damage being- done there. , „,. *•* <■ Holland's fine pile of buildings constituting the Arcade alont cost over £6000 to - construct, and Mac Gibbon's close on £4000. The buildings fronting Main street are valued at over £5000. In buildings alone, therefore, the damage must run into £15 000- What stock has been destroyed is impossible to estimate Valuable draperies tad been stocked by Mac Gibbon and the. «ther firms in that line, while the value of the furniture and groceries in the other buildings must also have comprired a bi? Bum. A rough estimate of perhaps £15,000 U not under the mark; in all, a total oi £30,000. The finest block of buildings m the town has been destroyed, as, although the brick framework is standing, the huge rents in them render them useless, and " actually make more difficult the task of rebuilding.

LIST OF SHOPS DESTROYED. The following shops which formed the Arcade are destroyed: — Gatehouse and Brims, diapers. Miss Cottsr, milliner. C Henderson, tailor. Federal Company, ironmoi'gcry storerooms. T. Lamborn, cycle dealer

Mrs Mulhare, fruiterer. A. Carr, hairdresser. A. M'Conachy's billiard saloon. Burley and Co., furniture dealers (two shops). Miaa Cotter, dressmaker. Mrs Kenning, refreshment rooms and dwelling (two shops) . Simon M'Donald, draper. W. P. Inder, solicitor. J. S. Neave, solicitor. City Grocery Co. (two shops). M. R. Lawlor, butcher. H. G. Horn, commission agent. Otto Hubener, music teacher. The other shops destroyed are : — MaeGibbon and Co. (Limited). R. Buchanan, grocer. J. Jamie, jeweller. Simon and Co., boot warehouse.

THE INSURANCES.

INVERCARGILL, January 29. The following is a list of the insurances and losses: — Mac Gibbon and Co.: £2500 in the National Office on the building (loss £500 over insurance), and £4200 on their stock (£ISOO loss). Bnrley and Co. : No insurance ; loss, £250. Lawlor: No insurance; loss, £175. M'Conachy : £200 in the Australian Alliance (loss, £100). Federal Co. : £250 in the Yorkshire on stock in the Arcade showroom (loss, £150) ; £1000 on buildings (portion occupied by Sleans, and badly damaged). Steans : £400 in the New Zealand on stock and fittings (loss considerable). Holland : £400 in Standard on Arcade and other f.hops, and £500 in the Ocean Accident on windows (loss, over £3500 above insurances) . Horn's office: Furniture and fittings, no insurance ; lose, £80. Mrs Kenning : No insurance : los=:. £200. Henderson : No insurance ; loss, £130. Carr : No insurance ; loss, £350. City Grocery Co. : £650 in Standard (loss, £400). Gatehouse and Brims: £200 in the North British and £400 in the New Zealand (loss £200). Miss D. Cotter: £200 in the Standard (loss, £400). Inder: £150 in the Standard (loss, £150), Noavo : No insurance ; loss £75. R. Buchanan : £300 in the Sun (considerable loss) . Simon M'Donald : No insurance ; loss £100. Jamieson: £200 in the Standard (loss, £100). Mrs Mulhare : No insurance : loss, £200. Simon Bros.: £400 in the South British (loss considerable).