Disastrous Fires in Australia

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 64, 27 November 1888, Page 2

Disastrous Fires in Australia

By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright. (PBB UNITED PRI'SS ASSOCIATION. J tdnet, November 25. One of the most disastrous fires which have occurred in this city for some years broke out at 10 o'clock on Saturday night. The building in which tho fire originated is a large four-stoiy one, situated in Marketstreet, and occupied by the Sydney Evening News, Town and Country Journal, Illustrated News, and several professional offices. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade, as well as all the volunteer brigades, were smartly on the scene, but were unable to prevent the destruction of the block of buildings, though their efforts were successful in preventing the Bpread of the fire to the adjacent premises, which escaped with slight damage. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it must have had a good hold when first discovered, as it spread with lightning rapidity, and in a few minutes there was nothing left to mark the fine block ef offices but a pile of seething embers, &c. The sight while the fire was raging was one of grandeur, and it was quite two and a half hours be* fore the danger to the adjacent premises was removed. The amount of loss is unknown, but che premises were insured in the Australian Mutual Insurance office for £32,000, of which however, nine tenths is reinsured in various offices. The other insurances are unknown, but it is believed that the amount is fully £15,000. The .vhole of the machinery used in connection with the publication of the papers mentioned is destroyed, but as the proprietors had taken the precaution to bave a duplicate plant erected in a separate building, it is expected that publication will not be long delayed. November 26. The proprietors of the Evening News estimate their loss by the fire on Saturday at £60,000. They have made arrangements with the proprietors of the Sydney Morning Herald for publication of the Evening News. Government have placed the Government printing office at the disposal of the proprietors of the Town and Country Journal so that publication of the weekly may not be interrupted The proprietors of the Sydney Daily Telegraph have also offered assistance to the Evening News in getting out the paper. The Victoria, National, Standard, United, and the New Zealand Insurance Companies each hold a line of L 3200 of the Australian Mutual's reinsurances of the total amouut held by the latter offloe on the building destroyed by fire on Saturday night. Melbourne, November 26. A great fire occurred in the township of Walhalla, North Gippsland, last night. Thirty buildings in the business portion of the town were totally destroyed. The damage Ib i estimated at £40,000.