EXTENSIVE FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 4082, 27 March 1876, Page 3

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT WELLINGTON.

We are indebted to the ‘Guardian’ for the following ti legram, the Press Agency not having thought it worth while to give us any information on the subject:— < Wellington. Sunday, March 26. A fire broke out this morning at a quarter-past five, ‘originating in the back store of W. and G. Turnbull and G0.,. Willis street. The fire brigades were very soon on the ground, and behaved splendidly, but were unable to stay the flames before they caught the rear premises of Moeller’s Empire Hotel, which adjoined Turnbull’s Stoi e. The origin of the fine is unknown, but is supposed to be rats, because where the fire was first 'found there was nothing stored but oats and salt, the latter of which is ex'ceedingly scarce in town at present. A few days ago one of the storemen found a rat’s nest entirely composed of vestas and their boxes, and at a considerable distance from where the matches were stared. The Empire Hotel was emptied of its furniture end stock. All the back part was burnt down, and many of the lodgers lost all but what they stood up in. Several commercial travellers lost a great quantity of, jewellery.. Turnbull was insured for about L 3.500 in various offices on building and stock, but the building and stock are valued atL7,500. The stock was a valuable one, having been recently largely increased by two shipments by the Ned White and Annie Lewis. Some thousands of pounds’ worth of chairs alone were burnt. The stock and goods in the Empire Hotel were insured for L2.500,—in the Standard L 250, in the New Zealand L 250, in the National LI,OOO, in the Royal L 500; and the Batavian LSOO. Turnbull was nsured for LI,OOO in the Transatlantic. The site of the Empire Hotel, 65ft frontage and 150 ft' depth (freehold), with the remains of the building not burned, was sold by auction for L 6,800, Mr Jacob Joseph being the purchaser.