FIRE AX GREYMOUTH – LOSS £5,000.

Evening Star, Issue 3119, 17 February 1873, Page 3

FIRE AX GREYMOUTH - LOSS £5,000.

At about two o’clock ou the morning of tlie 10th inst., lire was observed in a cottage in Arney street, between its junction with Grcsson street and Mawhera Quay. Those who noticedit, including some members of the politic inn to the rescue, rather than to, }ltc Veil', and the consequence was that, lire had a good hold before tho vlas given. When it was mycn, thi the residents generally thine'd otft with great rapidity, and found that tllenre was rapidly destroying avow of cottages fronting Amoy street, and, driven by a strong gorge wind, was rapidly travelling westward, theatening the destruction of the whole block;, including Strike ami Blackmore’s largo bronzy, The llamos, fanned by the wind, ran through the adjoining took 'possession of what was ontw, Criterion Hotel, at the corner of AiW- flint 'Wsoon'streets, and after deoTOlrig a number'of intermediate small hidings, the dames licked up the walls of the Jargc roiil 6xteiisivo worlts of Strike uiul lilackmore, brewers anil cordial imuuuacturevs, whicti Wore speedily enveloped in a mass of The building was a large three-storey one v containing a vast amount of valuable plant and machinery, but it soon foil u prey to the flames, aud a very ft \y mates aftov the bell laug it was

a heap of smouldering ruins. Next to the brewery was a four-roomed cottage, which was speedily destroyed, formerly occupied by Mr Blackmore, but fortunately he had left it for a house on the terrace only a few days before, so that his household property, at least, was sJived. Giving to the number of cottages in the block, it was impossible, in the excitement of the fire, to ascertain the actual amout of damage done, but we should say that about ten houses are gone, in addition to Strike and Blackmore’s large brewery. Beyond this the fire was prevented spreading, owing to the Fire Brigade pulling down a cottage, and, having got their nose in order, fought the flames hoth front and rear, and speedily reduced the conflagration to a smouldering heap of mins. During the heat of the fire there was a rumor afloat that two children had been burned in one of the cottages fronting Arney street, but the Fire Brigade made every search in the direction indicated, and failed to obtain any indication of such a catastrophe. Two hours afterwards, the children were found to be safe in a cottage on the opposite side of Gresson street. As to the total amount of the loss, it must be over L 5,000 - L 4,000 alone of which must he borne by Messrs Strike and Blackmore, and there was not a penny of insurance on the block.— Arr/us.