FIRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1251, 12 May 1884, Page 2

FIRES.

An extensive fire occurred at Okongaro, about seven miles from Wanganui, on Saturday night. The residence of Mr Spencer Peel was burnt to the ground. Nothing was saved, except a valuable dia- -- raond in a gold bracelet, which afterwards was recovered from the debris, and a gnn, which cost 60 guineas at Home. The origin of the fire is not known, as Mr and Mrs Peel were absent for the evening, having taken every precaution before leaving. It was insured in the Colonial for L7OO, L2OO being on the house and L3OO on the furniture, and L2OO on the other contents. The house was an old one, and the insurances will about cover the value, but the loss on the content* is estimated to be much above the insurances, as Mr Peel had a Urge amount of valuable jewellery and other expansive property. Another disastrous fire occurred at Invercargill on Saturday morning, when the premises known as the Leviathan Gift Depot, in Dee street, occupied by Rodgers and Co, booksellers and fancy goods warehousemen, were destroyed. The building was of brick, and had on one side the Imperial Hotel, and. on the other Hayes’ chemist shop, both of brick. The alarm was given shortly before 2 a. ra. by the night-watchman, who observed the glare in the studio of Nicholas and Dougall, photographers, who occupied , the rear position of the Upper storey within. In a comparatively short time some members of the new Volunteer Brigade and some of the old one were on the spot, but it was a matter of difficulty to ge; a good supply ef water on the place where tho fire was. In the starting dames had made their, waythrough the fi£or into' Rodgers’ warehouse below, from which people had been carry-, ing out goods, until driven away by the smoke, and the interior was speedily a mass of fames. The stock also was removed from Hayes, chemist’s, and the Imperial Hotel, both of which were for a time in great danger. The means taken, however, were successful in confining the fire to the building in which it originated, although the efforts made were to soma extent neutralised by the want of a “ rose ” on the auction in the case of one - »f the engines, causing it to bring up the gravel, and so interfere with the ; pumps. The flames burst out very suddenly, and it is surmised' that some of the chemicals' in the photogtaphic studio must have exploded. A good deal of Rodgers’s and Hayeafc " stock was removed, bat from their perishable nature were greatly damaged. Tho following are the insurances!— Messrs Rodgers and Co.’s buildings in Australian Mercantile for LSOO (L 250 reinsured); Royal, L 1,500 ; North British, L 2.500 ; stock in Australian Mercantile, LI, 030; North British, LI,500; HamburgMagdeburg, LI,000; Royal, Ll.,000; London and Lancashire, LSOO and LSOO on the fittings ; Equitable, L 1,500 ; total, L 12,000. On Messrs Nicholas and Dongal's ohotographic gallery, L6OO in the Colonial office; on the stock of J. D. Hayes, chemist, L3OO in the Australian Mercantile Union and L3OO in the New Zealand ; on the piano, plant and stock of F. \V. Harwell, who had «n office in the front of the upper storey, LIOO in the Colonial office. [by telegraph ] Wellington, To-day. Another fire occurred at 2.30 this morning, the houses occupied by Mr Preston,- 1 wine merchant, and Captain Steele, of the steamer Manawatu, being destroyed. The fire originated in the house of the latter, who is away from Wellington, hie wife and four children remaining in the residence. How it occurred is not known, but it is believed to have started in oqp qf the partitions. Both are the property of Mr G, Brown, contractor. The firemen were delayed by the water nqt being turned on at the reservoir until 30 . minutes after their arrival at the scene of the conflagration. The insurances are Prestoa’s house, L 250 ; furniture, L 5Q — both in the National] house occupied by Captain Steele, LIOO in the National $ furniture, L 1 0) in the South British. Ife. Preston estimates hia loss at LSO over the insurance. To-day, Mr D. FT. Williamson’s house at Momshakei wts destroyed by fire at 2 a.m on Saturday, it is supposed through an ember igniting the floor. The insurances are:— House, L 300; furniture, LIOO, both in the New Zealand office. The loss is considerably more.