ANOTHER BIG FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2369, 29 December 1898, Page 3

ANOTHER BIG FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

THE BRIGADE WORK WELL.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, December 29,

A fire broke out at 2.30 this morning in Mr Flockton’s furniture factory, situated off Cuba street. Fanned by a strong 8. W. gale the flames spread to R, Heron’s furniture factory adjoining, and both buildings were soon burning fiercely. The brigade, under lieutenant Adams, were promptly on the scene and directed their efforts to savingthe premises of Orespin’s Co-operative Store, C Smith’s large drapery establishment, and George and George’s drapery shop, which face Cuba street. It was soon apparent that the Brigade had a great task on hand to save these premises and prevent the spread of the fire to the whole of lower Cuba street. The men worked magnificently despite the tremendous heat and the dense volumes of smoke which arose from the sawdust in the factories, and the crowd was not slow "to appreciate their efforts, for they were cheered time after time. Orespin’s store caught at the back, and the fire, working its way under the roof, placed the Brigade at a disadvantage, and for some time it looked as if all the adjoining buildings were doomed. The fire obtained a good hold of the back part and top storeys of the three .premises, but the Brigade succeeded after a great fight in confining it to this limit, although it was nearly three hours before all danger was past. Both factories were levelled to the ground, and the other three premises were completely gutted at the back and on the top storeys. The buildings held large and valuable stocks, which were utterly rained by water and smoke. C. Smith’s .stock was insured for £14,300, and he estimates his loss at £7OOO over and above the insurance. The following offices have risks:—Palatine £1250, ployds £1750, Phoarpx £ISOO, Magdeburg £I3OO, National £ISOO, London and Lancashire £IOOO, Commercial Union £2OOO, South British £IOOO, Alliance, Royal Exchange, New Zealand Imperial, and London, Liverpool; and Globe £SOO each, Eastern Counties £250, Scottish Alliance £250. Mr Srpith owned part of the building and had it insured as follows:-South British and Phoenix £SOO each, Sun, Victoria, and United £3OO each. The Hon. G. M. Waterhouse owns the other portion of the building, which included Georges’ and Crespin’s premises. His instances are : Manchester £6OO, Magdeburg £6OO, Liverpool, London and QBpj?e £250, Alliance £2OO, Guardian £IOO, Heron badnoinsurance on the building gtock, but a good deal of the latter was removed. Floekton’s building was algo owned by the Hon. Mr WaterHouse, and insured fojr fSIOO, Flockton Had no insurance on hig' which was valued at £BOO aUd„was, totally destroyed, Orespin’s stock wag insuref 1 for £7OO in the Royal Exchange for The Commercial Union will be a considerable loser. George and George’s stock was insured for £750 in the New Zealand,' and £250 in the Madgebprg. The firm estimate their loss at £IOOO over the insurance.