THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 7

THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. GREAT BATTLE WITII THE FLAMES. (By TeleirraDh—Press Association.) Auckland, November 17. Further particulars regarding tho fire by which Messrs. Macky, Logan, and Caldwoll's warehouse was completely gutted show that tho side windows of tho Koyal Hotel, in Victoria Street, overlook Elliott Street, and a bourdor saw the flames suddenly shoot up from tho roof of tho warehouso. Ho instantly gavo tho alarm to tho City I'iro Brigade, and bcforo many minutes had elapsed tho entiro force and all tho appliances at tho disposal of tho brigade were on the spot. Tho alarm w-as given a fow minutes before 11 p.m., and in an incredibly short time, scarcely fivo minutes from tho first bursting of tho flames through the roof at the Darby Street end, tho building was afiro from end to end, from top to bottom.

Within a quarter of an hour after the first outbreak tho entiro length of tho roof of Messrs. Macky, Logan, and Culdwoll's warehouse was a mass of brilliant flames, which rose into tho air in unbroken solidity, and lit up the neighbourhood for a great distance around. With a low pressure of water, the fire was not easily dealt with. At the same time there were favourable places from which hoses could be directed. Fortunately, Macky, Logan's block was encased in concrete-faced brick walls which rose several feet higher than Fowler's brass foundry and the boot factory of Holdsworth and Sons, and this militated against tho spread of the flames in the early stages. Ultimately, -when the watsr pressure increased, the danger to the corner building was averted. Half an hour after tho start of the fire the entire warehouse was a roaring furnace. Luckily there was very little wind, but it appeared little short'of a miracle to save the City Chambers, at the corner of Queen and Victoria Streets. It was probably only dno to the high walls of the burning building in the block referred to that saved them from destruction. The herculean efforts of the firemen were largely instrumental in slaving off disaster from the remainder of the big block. At a quarter past 1 tho fire was well nnder control. On the Victoria Street frontage it was merely smouldering, but on the Darby Street side the flames were making a good effort to defeat the firemen without success. There was a bad crack in the masonry on the Elliott Street side, and all tho side windows, in tho Royal Hotel were cracked. The firemen worked with a will until tho flames were completely subdued. ■■ Macky, Logan's stock was insured for £80,000, including Royal .£BOOO, -Vtlas .£9OOO, National ,£2OOO, Liverpool, London, and Globo .£2OOO, Commercial Union .£OOOO, Sun .£3OOO, London and Lancashire .£2OOO, Imperial .£2OOO, South British U35000, Alliance ,£9OOO, North British .£3OOO, Royal Exchange £2000, Northern £21,000, Union £3000, Yorkshire ,£IOOO, United £1000, Ocean £1000. The building was insured in tho Now Zealand Insurance Company for £13,000, the fittings in the Ocean for £2000. There is n policy for £18,000 on profits in tire Royal Office.