Fire at Wellington.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5023, 3 June 1889, Page 2

Fire at Wellington.

(Br Telegraph.) WELLINGTON, Joke 2. The stores and offices of Messrs Johnston and Company, merchants, corner of Featherston and Panama street, had a narrow escape from destruction by fire this morning. A portion of the first floor and upper storey of the building is occupied as offices by Messrs Bell, Gully and Izard, solicitors, and about 5 o’clock this morning smoke was seen issuing from a window of the common law clerks’room. An alarm was given, and the fire brigade were quickly on the spot. The fire had a good hold in the room mentioned, and quickly spread up the studs and made its way through the roof. Here, however, its progress was stayed, but considerable damage was done to the two rooms, and the flooring and ceiling were considerably charred. A tremendous body of water was poured into the building, and the papers not destroyed by fire were saturated. The water found its way down to the basement, apd a large quantity of

Jobnston and Company’s stock was injured. Messrs Bell, Gully and Izard have lost a large number of valuable papers and law reports, besides the books that are damaged. Nothing is known of how the fire originated. The law hooks, furniture, and effects in Messrs Bell, Gully and Izard’s are covered by a policy of £7OO in the Colonial office, and Johnston and Company arc insured as follows: —stock, £3500 5 building, £4900 The offices interested ares—On the stock —Colonial, £1500; South British, £509; Phoenix, £750; North German, £250; Sun, £SOO. On the building —South British, £250 ; London and Lancashire, £500; London and Liverpool and Globe, £1000; North British, £500; Imperial, £1000; National, £750.