Disastrous Fire at Wellington.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 May 1901, Page 3

Disastrous Fire at Wellington.

Twenty-three Houses burnt down

[Per Press Association.]

Wellington, This Day,

The most extensive fire that has occurred in Wellington since 1887, broke out on Mount Victoria at 2 o’clock this morning, and destroyed virtually the whole residental block fronting Hawker, Shannon and Moeller streets. Besides, all but two or three houses on the east side of Shannon street and also several on the west side of Hawker street.

Twenty-three houses in all were burnt, covering an area "of between two and three acres. Amongst them were of Devine, solicitor ; Howe, public Librarian; Freyberg, timber expert; Eev. F. Hales (Church of Christ), andDarroch, schoolmaster.

Rowe also lost a private library of 5,500 volumes valued at £1,300. The house of Gruddy, schoolmaster, was the only one saved out of the main block, and this is in a ruined condition.

The inmates of the houses lostpraclic ally everything.

The buildings destroyed by the lire were the residences of C. Moore, H. Radcliife, Andrews, J. Freyberg, T. W. Rowe, R. Darroch, Captain Westrupp, Mrs H. Ross, Dix, Herbert, Dix, Freeman, J. J. Devine. Hargreaves, Collis, Pethcrick (2), M. Fraser, F. Conner, G. Sn addon, W. Dutch, B. Moyer, Hughes, Clifford. Rev. P. Hales, and Gilford. The total insurances arc £14,185, divided as follows: —Royal, £2,(575 ; | South British, £1,600; Commercial [Union, £1,500; Phoenix, £1,400; New Zealand, £1,300; London and Liverpool and Globe, £1,200; Manchester, £880; Alliance, £750 ; Imperial, £SOO ; Victoria, £400; Standard, £3BO ; National, £150; North Queensland, £150; Sun, £100; and Australia Alliance, £SO. Amended insurances total £15,860, of which the Royal has £3,500; Commercial Union, £2,100; Phcenix, £1,480; New Zealand, £1,500; and Manchester, £9OO,