FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 882, 5 May 1903, Page 3

FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

DESTRUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING CO.’S BUILDING.

£Per Press Association^

Auckland, last nigh

The Now Zealand Shipping Company’s

offices and stores in Quay street were partly destroyed by fire at 4 this morning. The interior of the building and a iarge quantity of fiax was burned. The damage is estimated Building £SOOO, and flax .£IO,OOO. Tho flax destroyed was to be shipped per Wakanui for London, and a small quantity by the Ventura. The damage to the building is covered by the insurance.

The fire was discovered at 0.55 a.m. in

jho premises of tno Kew Zealand .Shipping Company, and had a strong hold when the Brigade arrived. The flames were bursting through the roof and windows. The brigade attacked the seat of the fire, and subdued it a couple of hours after. Considerable damage was done to the roof and contents. The wails were practically undamaged. The office, which was in the corner furthest from the fire, was untouched by the flames, though it was I soaked by water. There was a large j ! quantity of flax and wool in the store. The origin oi the fire is supposed to be spontaneous ignition. The building was iusured for £3550, in the South British, but a large proportion is ro insured. The damage is well within the insurance, and is much Jess than was at first estimated. The contents of the Now Zealand Shipping Company’s building are estimated to have been over £9OOO in value, and included 150 tons of flax, worth £3900 ; 400 bales of wool, £4OOO ; tallow, £lO5 ; 400 sacks of wheat, worth £4OO ; seed wheat, valued £IOOO. A good proportion was saved, but the loss will exceed £4OO. Messrs Porter and Co. had an insurance of £BSO on too wool in the Standard. Messrs Warnock had 60 hales of wool, covered by a policy in the Canton Company. The Holler Mills had their loss, £429, fully insured. John Burns and Co. had 50 tons of flax insured with the North Queensland Company for from £I2OO to £ISOO. Hcsketh and Aickin had 35 tons of seed insured for a sum of £IOOO.