DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1443, 29 December 1886, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

[by TELEGRAPH.] Auckland, December 29. About half-past one this morning a destructive fire broxe out in Hobson street. It originated on the premises of E. Brown, baker, and extended to the adjoining shop of Langl y, butcher. Tae brigade were successful it stopp'ng the fire at Goldwater's, on the north side, but were unsuccessful in arresting the progress of the flames southwards, as 'anaed by the breeze, they speedily attacked the premises of a chemist (Robinson), which formed part of a large wooden block extendiog to Wellington street. It was now seen that the fire w uld prove a serions one, and the occupants of the adjacent threatened buildings commenced clearing out the whole of the concents. The firemen got a lead on to the verandah of Robinson’s with a view of checking the fire in the upper storey, another lead on McOulky’s block as veil as one to the rear of the block, but after a desperate struggle they were obliged to fall back and take up positions f arther southward. The premises of Robinson (ohemisr). Townsend (punter), and Mrs flamberg (herbalis 1 ) successively fell a prey t > tin flunks, despite 'ha heroic an* deavors of tne firemen and it seemed at one time as if the who'e bk>ck would go to HeadeU’s (dnper), corner of Wellington street. Owingtotbedesperateexertions of the firemen the fire was at la t stopped at the premises of McCutky, undertaker. The reaideoc-i of Mr Cooper, at the b*ck of Robinson's, was also destroyed. The total damage is estimated at over £4CK'O, and the insurances about £3OOO. The latter, so far as ascertained, are asunder: —Brown (h«ker), £225, London and Lancashire; Langley’s shop, £530, Standard ; Gold water’s building and furniture, £B7O, Siu f h British; --obinaon and Cooper’s shops, £3CO, New Zealand; McOulky and Mrs Hamberg's b i dings and stock, £725, Colonial; Rendeii’s stock, damaged by water, £BOO, Norwich Union. The ■>rigin of the fi r e is a mystery. Amm who slept <m Brown’s premises awoke an- 1 found the plvoe in flames The fire brigade are greatly commended for the wa> in which they fought the fire wiih the insufficient pressure of water, as but for their exerthns much more damage would have been done.