A BIG FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1364, 27 January 1905, Page 4

A BIG FIRE.

WELLINGTON D.I.C. DESTROYED

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, yostorday. Tho D.1.C., an extensive emporium, extending from Panama streot through to Brandon stroot, was completely destroyed by firo this morning. Nothing but the brick waits remain. Messrs G. Gaudin and W. Floating, two luembors of the Now Zealand Times publishing stall, discovered the firo when proceeding to work at 4.20 this morning.- The firo thon appeared to bo about tho centro of the buildin" on tho top floor, and though tho brigade were soon on the scene tho flames rushed through the building as if in a furnace, and in less than on hour and n-half the massive premises, along with a large and valuable stock, were a mass of reins. Nothing was saved from the main building, but it is oxpeoted some portion of the stock in the boot department will bo saved, though damaged by water. Tho company were to open their great summer clearing sals to-day. The roof of George and Kersely s Economic drapery promises, which runs through from Lambton Quay and adjoins the D.1.C., was ooco on fire, and their stock has been greatly damaged by water. A southerly wind took the flames across Brandon street, and did much damage to tho f asoades of buildings, their fronts boiDg burned and blistered and tho glass dostroyed. The Tourists’ Bureau and a portion of Kitkoaldio’s dropovy establishment woro tho chief sufforors. Tho buildings on each side of the D. 1.0 suffered considerably. Butler’s brick store, occupied by George and Kersley, and a suite of offices on the other side were both on fire, but wore saved, though dnmagod. Owing to tho tact that tho bolls seldom ring more (than a few strokes vory few people were at tho fire, and the nows came as a great surprise as people made their way into town this morning. Tho insurance on she D.I.C. total about £78.000, of which £30,000 is held at Home ' Later.

Tho fire at the D. 1.0. appears to have originated in tho tailoring department on the first floor. Tho tailors were working till 11 o’clock last ngiht-. The building was a largo rambling one, tho different departments being separated merely by woodon partitions. , , , . , Tho firo spread rapidly, and tho brigade had all their work cut out to prevent its spread to adjoining premises. The insurances totalled L 85.700, made up as follows Stock L 60.000, building L 21.000, fixtures L3BOO, plate-glass windows L4OO. Mr Corrigan, tho manager, estimates the value of tho stock at about L70,G00. Tho insurances on tho D.I.C. are held in the following offices: Lloyd’s (London) L 28.700, Central (Condon) L2OOO, Alliance L4GOO, Commercial Union L2OOO, Guardian L 2500, Liverpool, London and Globe L4OOO, London and Lancashire LIoUU, Law, Union and Crown LIOOO, Northern L3OOO, Now Zealand L6OOO, North British and Mercantile LISOO, North Queensland L2OOO, Norwich Union L3OOO, National LIOOO, Phoenix LISOO, Royal L6OOO, T£oval Exchange L 3500, Standard LIdOO, South British L 2500, Sun L 4009, United 311500, Yorkshire L2OOO, Victoria Looo. The above are practically total losses, nothing being saved. ... It now appears that tho damage at the premises of the Economic was much mor° extensive than at first anticipated. This firm (George and Kersley) state that they carrv a stock of drapery, etc., valued at between L 30.000 and L 40.000, and they further state that nearly the whole of this is damaged by smoke and water, while a portion ha 3 been completely destroyed. They are not yet able to estimate their In connection with the D.I.C. fire ' & remaikable feature was the escape of the buildings in the vicinity. There are a largo number of old wooden buildings, and several of these repeatedly caught alight, but tho efforts of tho owners, assisted by the onlookers, averted what probably would have been the most destructive conflagration ever experienced in the city. . , , The insurances on the Economic stocK are • Alliance L 2500, New Zealand L2OOO, Royal Exchange L2OOO, Commercial Union LI6OO, Norwich Union HSOO, Guardian LISOO, Law, Union, and Crown UIOOO, Liverpool London and Globe LIOOO, South British LIOOO, North British LIOOO, Yorkshire LIOOO, United L6OO, Pbcenix LSOO, Victoria LSOO, North Queensland LSOO. Wellington, last night. It is estimated that the loss on the. Economic stock firo to-day will amount to 60 per cent of the insurances.