SERIOUS FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 966, 11 June 1883, Page 2

SERIOUS FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH

Shortly after 5 a.m. on Sunday morning two men named John Conway and Silas Cooke were coming through the right-of-way by the Times office, when they observed smoke issuing from the rear of the building occupied by Mr T. Jacobs as a drapery store. Conway gave

the alarm at the Chester street station, and the fire bells rang. Shortly after Conway leaving, to give the alarm, his companion observed the flames bursting through the windows in the rear of Mr Jacobs’ shop, The Brigade were speedily on the spot, a d lines of hose were run out to the tank in Cathedral square and to the river. The fire, however, got good hold, and communicated to the premises occupied by Mr Fountain Barber on the corner and that of Mr Glasson, hair- [ dresser, and Mr Stewart, fruiterer, The engines were quickly got into position, but owing to some derangement of the machinery of the steamer stationed at the river, a delay took place in getting water on to the fire. In the meantime the work of saving the goods in the burning buildings was rapidly carried out. The stock of Mr Stewart was almost entirely carried out, and some portion of that of Mr Fountain Barber was also rescued. In the shop in which the fire originated the flames had too great a hold before it was discovered to enable much- to be saved. The efforts of the Brigade were mainly directed towards keeping the fire from communicating with the Central Hotel on the one side, and the Lyttelton Times office on the other, as, had the small buildings intervening, viz., Tattersall’s Club, Lennon’s oyster saloon, and Green’s gunsmith’s shop caught, nothing could have saved the entire block ; indeed, it would have been very doubtful if the Commercial and Criterion Hotels and the Gaiety Theatre could have been saved. The wind was from the S. W., but fortunately it was light, or the efforts of the Brigade would have been unavailing. The hold that the fire had obtained before discovery, rendered it impossible for the Brigade to save the three places on fire, viz., the shop, occupied by Mr Fountain Barber and those tenanted by Messrs Jacobs and Glasson. The upper storey of the building occupied by Mr Barber was used by the Young Men’s Christian Association, and the whole or the furniture and library was destroyed. Fortunately for the safety of the whole block, the efforts of the Brigade, who worked well despite the accident to their engine, were sufficient to confine the fire to the three shops named, though that occupied by Mr Stewart had the side burned out. The others spoken of were completely destroyed, and it was fully an hour from the time the alarm was given till the fire was got under. . There was a large crowd at the tire despite the early hour, and the windows of Mr Fiske’s jhop opposite were broken by the crowd hqing forced backwards, when the engine was brought on to the footpath! Owing to the accident to one of the steamers, the services of the hand engine had to be called into requisition. The buildings destroyed were held on lease by Mr F. Hobbs, and the

insurances were as follows ;—On the buildings occupied.by Mr F. Barber, Mr J.Glasson, and the Toung Men’s Chris* tian Association, L6OO ; on the building occupied by Mr Jacobs, L4OO ; on that occupied by Mr Stewart, L 15 0; or a total insurance on the buildings of Lll6O. All these insurances were in the_ New Zealand Insurance. Company. The insurances on the stock were as follows :—Mr Jacobs’ stock, in the Australian Mercantile Marine Insurance Company, LI6OO, LI2OO of which was re-insured in 5 the Australian Alliance, Mutual and Fire Insurance Association. Mr F. Barber’s stock was insured in the Liverpool,.London and Globe Insurance Company for L3OO, and he estimates his loss at L7OO over this. Mr, Glasson’s stock-, was. insured in the Mutual Insurance Company for LBO, and he estimates his loss at L2O over this sum. Mr Stewart’s stock was insured, and he estimates his loss by removal, etc., at L2O. With regard to the origin of the fire, Mr Jacobs st ites that there has been no fire in his building for four days, and that on leaving the premises about 10 30 p.m. on Saturday everything was apparently safe. From ah examination of the buildings after 'the fire, it was found that the taps of the meters ■ were turned off in all the shops with the exception of that occupied by Mr Jacobs. In this the fire had so completely destroyed the building that it was impossible to ascertain the condition' Of the meter. The origin of the fire'ls unknown. The two men, Conway'and Cooke, who gave the alarm, were subsequently arrested by the police for having stolen goods from the shop of Mr Glasson, which were found in their possession:— Press.

[by telegraph] Christchurch, To-day,

Additional particulars re the fire on Sunday morning state that the effects of the Young Men’s Christian Association, which were completely destroyed, were insured in the Norwich Union office Ihr LIBO. The library consisted of : 600 volumes, and was worth considerably more than the amount of the insurance, and the Association are heavy losers* In addition to the above a good deal 'of valuable property belonging to members and lent for the, use of the Association was destroyed. The Rev JT. Cree’s had some LSO worth of books and a magic lantern burned, nothing of which .tii insured, while Mr J. M. Heywbodand others have lost various articles of valued The members of the Associat on intendin consequence of the destruction of their old premises to make a vigorous' effort to push on the erection of the proposed new building on their section in Cambridge Terrace. The estimated cost of this is LIOOO, about half, of which is either 1 " in hand or promised. Mr W. Hobbs, the lessee of the block, whose lease hu seme 40 years to run, purposes replacing the premises burned with a handsome' structure of a more substantial and imposing character, plans for which are to be prepared as soon as possible.