FIRE IN A BOOT FACTORY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3825, 19 October 1883, Page 3

FIRE IN A BOOT FACTORY.

Auckland, This day

A fire broke out at 1 o'clock this morning at Messrs. Garrett Bros, boot factory and warehouse, Wakofield-strect. Some painters and carpenters on a night ocntract Averc working in the factory on alterations. The workmen left at near midnight, Mr Richard Garrett bolting up the premises all safe. The factory and the lowest story of the Avarehouso were gutted before tho brigade extinguished tho fire. The insurances are not accurately knoAvn, as the policies are in tho safe in the burning buildings. It is, hoAvever, stated that the buildings are insured for £1000 in the Union office, and the stock for £3060 in the Union and £1000 in the North British and Mercantile offices. The origin of the fire is unknown. Tho folloAving are additional particulars of the fire: —The origin of the fire is unknoAvn. William and Richard Garrett reside in a dwelling-house adjacent to the warehouse, Avith their mother and sisters. For a month past carpenters and painters have been Avorking in tho factory, etc., on night contract, making alterations to the premises, and they Averc so working up to 11.30 o'clock last night. There Averc some shavings necessarily about the floor, but Richard Garrett, who let tho Avorkmen out and locked up the promises, left them to the best of his belief perfectly safe, and went to his bed in the dwelling-house adjacent. About 1 o'clock some cabmen Avho reside on the opposite side of the street roused the family up, and on Garrett, partially dressed, going outside he saw that the fire was raging in the boot factory. The factory fire-bell was rung to give the alarm, but the notes were not heard to any great distance, and a man ran doAvn to tho Grey-street fire-bell and rang out an alarm from it. The lower storey of the warehouse was completely gutted. The damage is estimated at between £2000 and £3000.