TREMENDOUS FIRE AT NAPIER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1436, 20 December 1886, Page 2

TREMENDOUS FIRE AT NAPIER.

DAMAGE £60,000. N Alias, December 18. - The most destruo ive fire which has ever occurred in Kapler broke cat this morning in Tennyson street. The fire alarm rang about ten o’clock, and news qu’ckly spread t hat the premises of Messrs Banner and Liddle, auctioneers and insurance agents, were in flames. The Fire Brigade were on the spot in an incredibly short space of time, but still the fire had got a good hold of the building, which was burning fiercely. The hose was promptly rnn out, but the water failed It wss only at low pressure, and it was obvious from the start that the building where the fire originated was doomed- Nothing onld save t from the first outbreak, and a nasty north wind was blowing, which threatened destruction to many buildings In the violnisy. Within three minutes the back fence and ont-offioea of the Daily Telegraph building were in flames. The thing bed been too sadden to lead anyone to suppose that what at first was bnt a little fire wee the inception of s conflagration. The Telegraph office was speedily levelled to the ground. By this time the flames ware spreading on both aides of the Telegraph office, and Dnuoan’s auction meet wae in great danger on one side and a row of lawyers’ offices on the other aide. The fire was also spreading right through to Emer> ■on street, there being a strong southerly wind, and several buildings were observed to hive caught fire. Orest efforts were made to save the large Criterion Hotel, and this would undoubtedly hare caused the fUmes to spread to a long distance both sides of Hastings street. Fortunately the Criterion was at length sufficiently protected to allow of the Brigade directing their efforts to Tennyson street, and other buildings In Emerson street. By this time Hoadlsy and Co.'s fine premises wore on fire, and also those of yfartin (tailor). Snnsbnry and Logans’ new offices, and the premises of Neal (photographer) It wae generally thought that the Hawkes Bmy Herald office was perfectly secure, but the flames a:-read rapidly from Neal’s to the Herald office, and it was observed that the latter waa also burnio» fiercely. The whole of the Herald staff, and a boat of willing hands then removed cues of type, valuable dooanvn‘B, and everything that eager and wi ; li ig peop’e could lay bauds on, bnt the whole of the valnsble machinery was totally destroys K Farther up the street it was found that the rest of t he outbuildings on the Government land wa.-e on fire, but fortunately those flimes were speedily extinguished and gave no cause for alarm. As soon as the Herald buildings were reduc«d to ashes great fears were entertained for the safety of St J.ihn’s Church a id parsonage, behind the > Herald office- The fire was fortunately somewhat exbsu ted before reaching the church The parsonage farnltara was quickly removed, but was necessarily damaged in transit. Surrounding Messrs Hoadley’s were n amorous shops, and the fire wai spreading rapidly to them in a promiscuous manner which boded favor to none, bnt which meant destruction to all. Shop after shop want, and it was evident teat nothing could possibly save them. A suggestion to n..a powder was made but not acted on, and the fire fiend marched bn oblivions of all that was being done to stay his progress. O ' nr.e one aide of Tennyson street the Ha aid cffica was being reduced to ashes, the Masonic Hotel was In Simas, r Giro’s r.aida'ci was beginning to furnish Its quota to the devouring elenHDf, On the oppnsl e side of the street the fl ones were playing havoc with the

row of small wooden buildings previously referred to. Fortunately its progress higher up had been stayed. There was a narrow street, Market street, between Me Spring’s establishment and the auction r mm; in thatdireotiooa boundary had been formed and a limit set to the destruction. At the ether end mere was a vacancy between ths lart office and a blacksmith’s shop, and the dim s could not leap tin distance. In Emerson street, a fire was raging on both sides of the •trec.t. Bankets were in requisition to cover various premises, and a willing crqwd of workers Wfs rendering assistance. For an hour the fire was at its fiercest, and a f ter that the efforts of the firemen, who bad been work mg like Trcjms, were beginning t > make headway on the firm as, and from that hour, though the fire went on, it was within the prescribed lim ts, and a aenca of relief w«s experienced that, barring accidents, the worst was over It was nearly noon before the fire had worked Itself out, and even long after that hour the flames were still to be seen here and there shootiag out thair lurid darts, and smoke was everywhere. The firemen were busy in all directions, and people ware beginning to move about with safely. The damage done cannot be estimated, but approximately It may be •et down el from £40,000 to £60,000. What the insurance! ere cannot be known, as the Union Office, one of Ihp leading In. suranee companies in the district, has been destroyed, and particulars are not yet obtainable. The following offices and places of bod. ness have been destroyed s In Tennyson street —Telegraph newspaper office, Duncaa’s a notion room. Sheath’s (Solicitor) office, Lee’s (Solicitor) office, Garner’s (Deputy Assignee) offios, Priosbury and Logan’s old offices, also the offices and buildings of Alger, commission agent; Wilding and do., timber merchants ; W Ellison, surveyor Chamberlain, commission agent; Martin, tailor; Salnsbury and Logan;Neal, photographer; Herald, newspaper ; Masonic Hall; Welle, blacksmith ; Evans, saddler; Bakins and Co , sheep dip manufactory. In Emerson street —Hoadley end Co , auction mart; Fitzheard, late fish shop..; Nicholson, (furniture warehouse ; Jansen, jeweller ; Lessong, surveyor; Lavl, tailor; Garnham (lata), painter. The premises of the following are damaged :—Worth’s boot shop; White, fsccv goods; McGill end Campbell, draper* ; West, greengmo- 1 ; Searle, milliner ; Evening News office; N. Williams, house decorator ; National Insurance. Foil iwing are the Insurances so far as at present can be obtained i —South Brtifh, £3130; New Zealand £3150; Co'oniai £1080; London and Lancashire, £4OO The above figures do not really represent the total amount of insurances. In consequence of the destineti n of the Union Insurance office, in which it is supposed the heaviest Insurances were effected, the amounts cannot as yet be ascertained. The fire commenced in a yard at turned to Banner and Liddie’a warehouse where stood a number of cum of iron bedsteads packed In straw. How it arose no one can say, but it apresd with astounding rapidity. Of course an inquiry will be held, when the mystery may be unravelled. Mr Banner was the first to discover the incipient fire and the alarm was promptly given. The boundaries of the fire are marked very strong.ly The ground for two scot is hare. The Insurance on the Daily Telegraph office is only £2300, so that this loss will bo' exceeded by £2OOO. The Herald is inenred for £4OOO. out 'he proprietors estimate their loss at £ISOO additional.