The Great Gore Fire

Southland Times, Issue 19264, 30 January 1904, Page 2

The Great Gore Fire

APPROXIMATE LOSSES £80,000.* TWENTY-TWO SHOPS DESTROYED. From our own correspondent. The most disastrous firo ever known in Gore broke out about 12.80 a.m. yesterday and swept away tho ha_.d_o_ac»t block of buildings in tho town. With exception of five, the whole of the shops and offices burned were of comparatively • recent construction, having been completed two years ago to replace tho wooden structures destroyed by fire in September, three years since. Included In tho premises devastated were MaeGibbon & Co. 's fine three-storeyed warehouse- and J. Holland's splendid Arcade, which was gutted throughout, with a private electric installation. The premises occupied by the following were totally destroyed :•— Simon & Co., bootmakers. J. Jamie, waitchmaker. R. Buchanan, grocer. Gatehouse & Brims, drapers. Miss D. Cotter, draper. C. Henderson, tailor. Federal Co.'s furniture show room. G. Lai-borne, cycle agent. Carr, tobacconist. Mrs Mulhare, fruiterer. McConachy & Son, billiard saloon proprietors. Miss E. Cotter, draper. Mrs Kenning, refreshment room proprietor. Burley & Co., furniture makers. J. S. Neawe, solicitor. | H. O. Horn, commission agent. W. F. Inder, solicitor. „ Simon McDonald, draper. MaeGibbon & Co., merchants. M. Lawlor, butcher. The shop occupied by C. Steans, tobacconist, was badly damaged by fire, and T. Lock's (baker) stable was destroyed. Tlio fire appears to have originated in the shop of Miss D. Cotter, at tho corner of the Arcado and Main street, and when discovered by a passer-by could easily have been subdued. Tho brigado was promptly on tho scene, and the steam engino was stationed at the fire well in the centre of the street, 50 yards away from the burning buildings. Being very dry weather the water in the well was low, and tho engine was kept at halfspeed so as not to exhaust the supply too quickly. Gatehouse & Brims' shop - adjoined Miss Cotter's, and th© fire spread into that and also into Henderson's shop in the Arcade. It was kept well in hand, however, and if the water had . lasted for three minutes* longer, further danger would have been at ar. end. As it was, the water gave out, and the engine had to be taken to the river. over a quarter of a mile away. Tho manual engine, which had been working at a well at the rear of the Southland hotel, replaced the steam engine art the Main street . well, but quickly exhausted the supply. While hose .was being laid from the river the fire spread through the Arcade nnd on towards-. Steans' on the other side. Then it came out to Mersey street, threatening the Southland hotel and damaging the sample rooms considerably. McGruer & Co.'s djapery establishment and other. buildings on the opposite side of Mersey* street were also in danger for some time, but Were saved by the application of blankets to the windows and doors. Owing to the limited pressure of water and the shortage of hose, the brigade was unable to mako any headway against the tremendous advance of the flames, which finally consumed tho whole block ; the brigade were working hard for about four hours before the further spread oi the fire was finally averted. INSURANCES AND LOSSES. MaeGibbon & Co. had £2500 in tho National office on the building (loss £1500 over insurance), and £4200 on their stock (£ISOO loss). Burley __ Co. : No insurance : loss £250. Lawlor :. No insurance ; loss £176. McConachy : £200. in the Australian Alliance (loss £100). Federal Co. : £250 in the Yorkshire, on stock in the Arcado show room (loss £150). Federal Co. : £1000 on buildings (portion occupied by Steans, and badly damaged). _ Steans : £400 in the New Zealand on stock and fittings (loss considerable). Holland : £4000 in Standard on Arcade and other shops, and £500 in the Ocean Accident on windows (loss over £*3500 above insu ranees). Horn's* office furniture and fittings : No insurance ; loss £80. Mrs Kenning _ No insurance a loss £200. , •'*-.:; Henderson _No insurance ; loss £130. Cnrr : No insurance ; loss £350. City Grocery Uo. : £050 j a Standard (loss £400). i Gatehouse arid Brim's : £200 ia the North British, and £400 in the New Zealand (loss £200). Miss, Vf. Cotter j £200 ,in the Standard (loss £400). Lawlor : Nq insurance ; loss- £75 Inder : £150 in the Standard - loan £150. * Neave _ No insurance ; loss £75. R.. Buchanan: £300 in the- Sun (considerable loss). < •Simon McDonald : No insurance; loss £10*0)"* ! * 2 °° * * h * Standa^<»«"« Mr_ Mulharrc : y q insurance ; Joss £200 Simon Bros. : £400 in tho South Br*. tish (lohs considerable). " .. The origin oi the fire is unknown. Neither Miss Cotter nor Gatehouse ana Brim's had u 8 _d a fire pi« 0 for months, and tho premises were fitted with, the electnc hght. There will, probably be an enquiry into the cause of tho fire