The Christchurch Fire.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7136, 19 November 1894, Page 3

The Christchurch Fire.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. Christohuroh, Saturday night.— Shortly after eleven o'clock last night a fire broke out in the premises of Fletcher, Humphreys and Co., wholesale wine, spirit, and general merchants, situated in Chancery Lane, a .right-of-way leading into Cathedral Square from Gloucester street. The building was a substantial one of three stories, built of brick and stone, and was extensively stocked with wines, spirits, tea and general merchandise. The fire started in the top flat, which was used as a coffee, spice and pepper Btore, and the flames are supposed to have originated from the coffee roaster, which had been used during the day, as the fire burst on* suddenly. It had probably been burning for some time. The alarm was given by some members of the Christ's College Rifle Corps, who afterwards assisted to remove the horses from the stabled at the rear of the warehouse. After a tew minutes' delay, caused through the fire alarm system being slightly out of order, and recording the wrong number, the brigades arrived and got to work with two chemical and two steam engines. The third steam engine was unfortunately in dock receiving a new coat of paint. The brigades worked well, but were handicapped through not having the whole of the plant, and the bursting of a hose reduced the amount of water thrown on the fire. Owing to the inflammable nature of the goods the fire burned fiercely. The large building of the Australian Mutual Provident Society, which adjoins Fletcher, Humphreys and Co. 's, was in danger at one time, but luckily the wind was from the east, and carried the flames past it. That the Chamber of Commerce on the one side, and a house belonging to the Gas Company on the other side, did not take fire was due very much to the substantial walls of the building in which the fire was confined, as well as to the exertions of the brigade. The interior of the place ia a complete wreck, especially the upper portions. The roof wing is gone, its charred timbers and those of the Geiling forming a mass of debris on the second floor, from which great difficulty was experienced to-day in removing any goods that were in a more or less damaged condition. Portions of the second floor were also burned through, and allowed the fire to reach the ground floor, from which, how- J •ver, most of the stock was removed ; but that amount was small compared with the quantity the establishment held. Through- ! out the morning some hundreds or more cases of spirits, etc., were got out from the ground floor of the bond, and at 11 am. to-day salvage operations were commenced under an organised staff. To»day.— The insurance on the bond building was £1,000, and on the stock £7,000, total £8,000. On the warehouse building the insurance was £3,000, and on the stock £10,000, total £13,000. j The grand total is £21,000. The companies , interested are the South British, National, j London and Lancashire, Alliance, Standard, | London Liverpool & Globe, Royal Exchange, Palatine, Australian Alliance, Guardian, North Queensland, United, Victoria, and Manchester. It it estimated that the loss' exceeds the insurance by £10,000. Later.— lt is now believed that owing to the salvage Messrs, Fletcher, Humphreys, & Co., beyond the inconvenience, will not be Jasers to an appreciable extent.