GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2314, 26 December 1889, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY

UNION COMPANY'S STORES DESTROYED. [Pjbr Press Association.] Sydney, Deosmber £§ A great fire brofce but this morning \?hich r at one time, threatened to destroy a large amount of shipping, A( 3.30 a.m. (fee fffttotara Jo ftf

vicinity of the eheds on the Tasmanian wharf, g*?e an alarm of fire. The brigade was soon on the spot, but there was little chance of their getting the fire well m hand, and what they did was m the direction of keeping the flames to the premises already attacked. The natnre of the contents of tho store helped to feed, what for a time | Was perhaps one of the fiercest fires Been m New South Wales for many years. The Union Steamship Company's new store, adjoining the premises i is which the fire originated, was capable of holding 30,000 tons ot cargo, but once the flames got hold of it the structure was rapidly demolished. At one time the steamer Waihora which had only recently arrived from Wellington, was m danger of becoming a victim to the fire, but the officers with promptitude deserving of great credit hauled the vessel away from the wharf. The stream raised by the Tssserg pumps saved the wharf m qnestion from being destroyed.. Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co's sheds were payed with difficulty. Twelve hundred tonß of produce, which was landed here by the last three New Zealand steamers, was burned, but for what amount it was inßored is not known, and owing to the offices closing for the festive season, nothing is likely to be known before Friday. The National and South British Companies are believed to have been the leading lines . Fortunately there was no wind at the time, otherwise there would have been seen a conflagration of great magnitude. The structures destroyed were wooden buildings, and had frontages to the water. Two firemen were injured, but it is not expected that fatal aesults will supervene.