DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5804, 18 December 1886, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT

NAPIER.

Twenty Buildings Down.

£60,000 Damage.

The Fire Still Spreading.

[Psb Peess Association.!

NAPIER, Dec. 18,

At three minutes to ten this morning "the most destructive fire which has ever occurred in Napier broke out. At the time stated the firs-bell rang out, and it was found that the back-yard in Banner -and Liddle's magnificent new warehouse in Tennyson street was in flames. The fire had got a good hold, and though the Brigade were promptly on the spot a north wind blowing was against them, and only the low pressure water was on. Within fonr minutes the back premises of the Daily Telegraph •office were in flames, and before a good water pressure could be got, the machine And jobbing-roomß were on fire. There was also a crash of glass in Banner and XttMte'-a, showing that the fire had a nnastery inside. Within ten minutes •of the first alarm the Telegraph office was in ruins, and the warehouse of Banner and Liddle was destroyed. The buildingß were only separated by an Bft right-of-way. The fence of a vacant allotment opposite was also on fire. Martin's '(tailor), at the end of the fence, was now burning, and the Herald office was also -threatened. It is extremely doubtful if the fire will not spread on each side of the consumed buildings. A large, • crowd gathered ; the people were very orderly, and worked with a -wilL A great deal of the jobbing plant tQ. the Telegraph office was removed to places o! safety, and the safe and files ard valuable documents were all got out. The fire was first discovered in the back yard, where Banner- and Liddle had stored some bedsteads. They were packed in straw. The damage will probably exceed JBIO.OOO. Thu Telegraph plant was valued at JB4OOO, though the paper, &c, was stored in a -separate building, some distance from "Tennyson street, on the opposite Bide from the office. The insurances on the Telegraph office are only £2000. The fire at half-past ten was

STILL SPREADING.

After Martin, the tailor's caught, the .fire Beized on the new Law Offices, erected tej Sainsburyand Logan, on the same side as the fence, hut on the opposite side from where it epread to the Herald office, which was Boon destroyed. The flames were active in the rear as well, and»C. D. Hoadley and Co.'s wool stores were next on fire. In the parallel street (Emerson street), and on the opposite Bide from Hoadley's, the front of the Evening News office caught fire. Altogether

TWENTY BUILDINGS

have already gone, and though the wind lias changed, it is Bimply carrying destruction in other directions. The damage already done must be at least .£60,000. The block was one of the finest in Napier, and it has all gone. Kinross and Co/b office ; Neal's, photographer ; and two or three other shops in Emerson street, as well as Margoliouth's auction mart in Tennyson street, are in ruina.