LARGE FIRE AT GISBORNE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3960, 7 February 1882, Page 2

LARGE FIRE AT GISBORNE.

A WHOLE BLOCK OF BUILDINGS DESTEOYED. PROPERTY TO THE EXTENT OF £33,000 DESTROYED. £by telegraph]. On Sunday night the most destructive fire that has ever taken place in Gisborne occurred, destroying property estimated to be over' £33,000 worth in value. At about a quarter to seven, flames were seen to ooze from beneath the premises occupied by Graham <& Co., wine and spirit merchants. Before anything could be done to stop the progress of the flames, they had extended to the Union Co.'s offices and the bonded stores of T. W. Carr & Sons. These valuable concrete- buildings were erected about five years ago, and cost about £10,000. They contained oil, wool, grass seed, and a large quantity of general merchandise. Mr. Canwas one of the Lady Jocelyn passengers, and had, with his family, recently purchased the premises and started business here. The- flames rapidly extended to the pre mises of Messrs. Pitt & Bennett, auctioneers, passing the rear of the Union Bank to Macfarlane's Hall. Presently the Union Bank caught fire, then succumbed the oflices of Brassey & Fraser, solicitors, Dickson's Argyle Hotel, besides one or two other minor buildings. Page's Masonic Hotel, the Albion, and buildings on the other side of the street were saved with the greatest difficulty. The insurance is not yet to hand. The whole block is cleared. Had there been the slightest breeze blowing the town would have been burnt down. The fire insurances are :— South British Insurance. — Argyle building, £400 ; Carr & Sons' stock, £1,000 ; Union S.S. Co.'s furniture, £50 ; Carlow, Smith, & Co.'s goods, in bond, £300. Total, £1,750. Victoria Insurance. — Arg}-le's building, £400 ; Carr & Sons' stock, £1,250 ; Carlow, Smith, & Co.'s goods, in bond, £350 Total, £2,000. Union Insurance. — Carr & Sons' stock, £2,000 ; stock in wool-shed, £250 ; woolB'ennett's ~ ouil'ding," £250 ; Macfarlane's Hall, £500 ; Union Bank building, £400 ; Graham & Co.'s stock, £275 ; seventy-three bales, £1000. Total, £5,175. Colonial Insurances. — Carr & Co., stock, £1250 ; Butt's furniture, £150 ; Pitt and Bennett's improvements, £170 ; ditto, produce, £260 ; Brassey's buildings, £250. Total, £2080. North British and Mercantile Insurance. — Macfarlane's Hall, £325 ; Carr and Sons' store, £1000 ; Carr and Sons' stock, £500 ; Carr and Sons' wool shed, £150 ; Union Bank building, £400 ; Pitt & Bennett's building, £250. Total, £2625. National Insurance Company. — Carr and Son's stock, £2,000 ; woolshed, £250 ; produce, £250 ; Graham & Co.'s store, £250 ; Union Bank, £400. Total, £3,150. Norwich Union Insurance Company. — Carr & Son's store, £500 ; stock, 500 ; Argyle Buildings, £200 ; Finn's building, £50 ; Finn's furniture, &c, £200. Total, £1,250. Standard Insurance Company. — Carr and Son's bags, £500 ; bonded stock, £400 ; Braasey's building, £200. Total, £1,100. Royal Insurance Company. — Carr and Son'e stock, £1,100. Total, £1,100. New Zealand Insurance Company. — Argyle stables, £1,000; Quinn's building, £100; Argyle Hotel, stock, £250 Argyle building, £600 Carr & Sons' stock, £1,000. Total, £2,050. Grand total insurance, £22,380.