FIRE IN DUNEDIN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1425, 6 December 1886, Page 3

FIRE IN DUNEDIN

(PBK PRESS ASSOCIATION. '

Dunedin, December 6. A large wooden srooda-shed opposite the the Union Co.’a offices was burned to the ground at nine o’clock last night The fire must have been smouldering nn noticed, probably for boor*, for although it was only observed at a few minu'ea be fore 9, the whole abed from end to end was ablaze a quarter of an hour after the outbreak, The ahod was one maaa of flamea and from that time forward sections of the roof fell in at intervals leaving the uprights standing—a lona row of burning Bucks, Aa these gradually fell a double row of trucks Inside became visible. They were burning fiercely, and It waa plainly hope'*«i from the outset to save any of the concents. There waa a pleasant breeze blowing, sufficient to assist matters and the flames travelled from the southern to the northern end of the shed with wonderful rapidity. By then the worst of the mischief was over, and In an hour all that of a shed, which cost £3OOO, waa aa array of ohsrre 1 Smouldering uprights. The fire was first seen simultaneously by two persons from different directions. Mr J. Lough states that ho was at the corner cf Crawford st. when he saw a blase coming out of the centre at ‘he extreme sou-hern end. By the time he aot to the shed the fi e had got pretty good hold and the flamuß spread a considerable distance along. Inside were three trucks, laden with wool, standing elose to the shed, which he uncoupled. Two or three persons then put in an appearance and with their assistance he ran the trucks along the line out of teachVery shortly afterwards the whole building was enveloped in flame?. The origin cf the fire has not been ascertained ’in* last persons known to be in the building were two railway employes named Wilkin;* and Atkinson, who entered the shea aboat 10 o’clock on Saturday night, for the purpose of cleaning some trnoks. The night watchman passed the shed last evening, and at quarter ato 8 everything appeared to be perfectly safe. Three quarters of an hour later ho was within 100 yards of the shed and did not observe any signs of fire. Twelve loaded trucks had been discharged. The shed was us-d as an export shed and the bulk of the goods it contained previously to the fii e had been removed ou the Saturday nisht The goods rtmaining chiefly consisted of sheepskins, hides and wool in trucks, and some groceries. On this point it is Imp:salble to obtain definite information, as It will require four or five hours work before the .poods despatched can be checked off and the goods rema niug ascertained. The goods destroyed are * estimated at the highest figures given to be worth £3OOO. Wright, St-phesaon and 00., D. Reid and Co., and McKerras and Hszlett are mentioned as agents for or owners of the goods destroyed. The building was unlnsnred. T atek. The principal losers are Wright, t>tepherson and Co., who had 40 bsles of wool and other goods lost, representing a loss of £ISOO, including trucks. These goods were uninsured