FIRE IN OURRIE STREET.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7378, 23 May 1887, Page 2

FIRE IN OURRIE STREET.

About three o'clock on Sunday morning a fire broke out in the produce store lately occupied by Mr. Mynott, at the corner of Currie-street South and Courtenay-street, resulting in the premises beng completely gutted. The first observer of the fire was Constable Hewitt, who when on his beat in Devon-street had his attention drawn to a glare of fire in tho vicinity of Mr. Mynott's store. On quickly proceeding to ascertain the seat of the fire he found it to be raging in the grocery portion of the store at the corner of the thoroughfares. The fiery element, apparently, had then made good headway.' He aroused Mr. Noonan, who resided opposite, and then rang up Captain Bayley, of the Fire Brigade, bj the telephone which connects his private residence with the New Plymouth Club. Constable Hewitt then sounded the alarm on the bell at the railway crossiag and the large one opposite the Government Buildings. The Fire Brigade mustered at their posts promptly under Captain Bayley, and in a few minutes from the toscin sounding, had no less than five leads of hose playing upon the burning building. The flames were at this time fanned by a gusty wind which wan then blowing from the southeast, and fears were expressed that unless they were mastered Mr. Collinß' foundry adjoining would also go, and the fire become an exceedingly difficult one to get undet ; however, the efforts of the brigade were eminently successful, and in about twenty minutes from the time that the hose reels were run out they had it well in hand. Quarter of an hour later the fire wap suppressed. Constable Hewitt, for the prompt manner in which he gave the alarm, *and the Fire Brigade, for their organised attack in fighting the names; deserve every commendation. As to the origin of the fire little is known or can be ascertained, but as usual, when there is no other likely^ reason, wax matches are credited with being the cause, as there was a considerable quantity of vestas rin the grocery . store where the seat of the fire was when first seen. The buildings were constructed of corrugated iron, and had only recently been vacated by Mr. Mynott, who surrendered the -stock to' his creditors. The premises are the property of the N.Z. Loan & Mercantile Agency Co. " The undestroyed portions are stable, office, and a part of the lean-to. When Mr. Mynott dosed the store in April the stook was then valued at about £350. Mr. Baucbope, the Acting Deputy Official Assignee, intended offering the whole of the stook remaining at auction, on Wednesday, and the last visit made tothe buildings was on Friday, in connection with the sale. Among those first upon the s6ene of the fire after the constable gave the alarm were Messrs. Churton and Reid, of the Bank of New Zealand. The total insurances amount to £1600, made up as follows :— Building, £350 in the, .New Zealand office \ stock — Union £150, Norwich Union £150, South British £700, United £260. We are informed that the policies on the stock were principally upon butter and other merchandise, when there was a large stock, and at the time of the fire.the Official Assignee estimates that there was then a stock valued at about £200— -there being an inventory to about that value — so that the offices interested will divide the loss pro ratq.