FIRES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8808, 21 December 1906, Page 3

FIRES.

o OUTBREAK IN THE CITY. A. J. WHITE'S PREMISES. A fire occurred this morning in a storeroom on the premises of Messrs A. J. White and Co., Tuam Street. The outbreak was discovered shortly before eleven o'clock, when flames were found creeping through come straw and shavings in a shed, constructed of iron and wood, at the hack of the main brick buildings. Attempts to extinguish the fire by means of buckets of water proved unavailing, and an alarm was given. As is usual when fires occur in the daytime' in Christchurch, there was some delay, owing to the fact that the city's horses were out in the highways and byways with water-carts, and in the meantime the fire spread rapidly. The shed was stored with crates of crockery and glassware, rolls of linoleum, bamboo blinds, bedsteads, and other furnishing goods, and there was an abundance of inflammable material. The employees proceeded to remove as much as possible of the stock, and when tlie brigade arrived, a plentiful supply of water was available from the tanks in Tuam Street and in Lichfield Street, a steamer being stationed at each. The fire was confined to tho shed in which it had started and to a neighbouring lean-to, and before noon had been reduced to the smouldering stage. Tlie extent of the damage could not be estimated with any accuracy, a number of unopened cases being charred and wetted, bub the loss will run into several thousand pounds. This will be partially covered by insurance. The infiu ranees in connection with the fire are as follow :— On buildings— Store No. 1, Victoria Office, £100; ehed, Pbcewx Office, £75 j van shed, Phoenix Offica £25. On s»toek — Store No. 1, Royai, £100; Victoria, £400; Manchester, £500; store No. 2, Victoria, £150; shed, Phoenix, £200.