THE COLOMBO STREET FIRE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3739, 25 September 1886, Page 3

THE COLOMBO STREET FIRE.

LATEST PARTICULARS. (By Telegkaph.) CnßiSTcnußcn, Sept. 24. A fire m Colombo street last night burned three shops — Fletcher, tailor ; Silvester.baskelnmker ; Longuet, hairdresser— and seriously damaged the roof of Garrick and Cowliehaw's solicitor's office. It began m Silvester's kitchen about 10.15, and was apparently caused by coals falling from a fire left burniDg m the grate. Only one steam fire engine was available, the others being laid up for repairs. Shortly before midnight the fire seemed under control, but at ten minutes past twelve it broke out afresh m Garrick and Cowlishaw's roof and was not entirely subdued till 2.30 a.m. All the valuable documents m the office ■were preserved. Of Fletcher's stock, worth about £5000, but £700 worth was saved. Silvester's stock and furniture were mostly destroyed. Of Longuet's etock and fittings (uninsured), a large portion was saved. All the buildings belonged to the estate of the late Mr Isaac Luck. The telegraph line passed close to the burning buildings. The northern telegraph wires and several telephone ■wires were interrupted, but communication has now been restored. The insurances on Garrick and Cowlishaw's buildings aro £1000 m the Norwich Union ; stock and and furniture, £1000 m the New Zealand office ; Fletcher's buildings, £600 m tho New Zealand and £200 m the South British, £1000 of which is re-insured. Silvester's building, £300 m tho Norwich Union ; stock and furniture, £200 m the Equitable, £25 m tho Colonial ; Longuet's building, £300 m the New Zealand. The sto^k of tweeds m Fletcher's building, belonging to Mr W. G. Kemp, and destroyed, was insured for £200 m the United Office. Another fire occurred here to-nighfc, but the damage was not bo serious. An old wooden building, part of which was used as j stables by Mr i\ W. Dolamain and part as a blacksmith's shop by Messrs Harper and White was destroyed. Qho fire originated m the stables, but bow it is not known. The building was situated m the same blosk as those burnt down the previous night. It belonged to Capt. Stephen Fisher, nnd was insured m National office for £iOO. I