FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1713, 2 April 1906, Page 2

FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Melbourne, April 1,. Mr Bent says states that Vistoria will not be officially represented at tbe New Zealand Exhibition. He sent a very definite answer in the negative on Friday.

enormous damage done.

By telegraph, Press Ass’n, Copyrigh Sydney, March 31.

One of the fieroest fiteß ever experienced in Sydney occurred this moroiDg, starting at about 2 o’clock in a block of warehouses, extending from Clarence to Kent street. Before 4 o’clock the fire had completely gutted several large business premises. . . The outbreak was discovered in the sixstorey warehouse of Edwards, Dunlop and CimpaDy, wholesale stationers, Clarence street, It thßnce spread to tbe six-storey warehouse of James Stedman and Company, wholesale confectioners, extending at tbe roar into Kmt street. Both premises were stocked with immense quantities of inflammable material. Tbe flames travelled with lightning rapidity and intense heat to the surrounding buildings, preventing the brigades getting at close quarters. The main effor s of the brigades were directed at saving tue Grand Central Hotel, adjoining Sfcsdman’s, where great exoitemant prevailed amongst a large number of inmates, who made a hurried exit into the street, the hotel being cleared by ordor of the brigades. Ojo cornet of the hotel caught, but by strenuous efforts the firemen succeeded in saving it after considerable damoge had been done to Eome of the top storeys. Meantime, several other buildings became involved in destruction, and it looked ae if the whole block would be swept out. The Berlin Piano Company and a large oompany of s'gnwriters had their premises gutted. Websdale, Shoosmith and company, printeis, and Skinner’s Luggage Agenoy oaught, but the work of the brigades was now beginning to tell, and they managed to check the conflagration before serious damage was done to these places. The burniog debris oarried an immense distance and set fire to the roofs of adjoining streets. Detachments of firemen wore detailed to extinguish these outbreaks before they gut fairly hold. The flames shot across Kent street, and as there was danger of dwellings there oatohing fire the inmatee sought safety for themselves and their belongings in the streets. The dangers were greatly increased by the fall of Edwards, Dunlop aod Com paoy’s and Stedman's wall, which in falling demolished other buildings. The fire is still burning, but is well in hand. It is impossible to cat mate the damage. A rough calculation plaoes it at one hundred and fifty thousand pounds. The buildings involved are : -Edwards, Dunlop and Cjmpaoy, Jarneß Stedman and Oj , Berlin Piano Company, Legge and Co-upany, completely gutted ; Grand Central Hotel, three top storeys damaged by fire and watsr ; Bkioner’s Luggage Agenoy badly damaged; Wtbsdale, Shoosmith aDd Company, printing works, s'ightly damaged by fire and water! Dickeop, art furniture rcoms, Cole Brothers, printers’ manufacturers, demolished by falling wall?. In York street the roofs of two warehouses and an hotel were damaged by fires from falling debris. Later.--NothiDg remains of the great warehouses but a heap of smouldering debris. Kent street is, ©jv.erod with great piles of fallen bricks. In this street tbe enormous ravages of the fire are apparent. The Clarence street frontage dcos not show dam&g o 1° Ihe same extent- What wind there was was carrying the fire from Clarence to Kent street. The saving of the Grand Central Hotel was little shot of marvellous, the four top floors being oa fire at ono time. Torrents of water wero poured on tbo buildiDg and have done immense damage to the contents.

The list of insurances is not at present available. Stedman's, and Edwarde, Dunlop and Company's buildings have beou csmpletely burnt out. The latter carries insurances to the extent of £75,800.

Received 8.4 p.m., March 31

Sydney, March 31

■ Through the partial destruction of Skinner’s Luggage Agency, Mr George Darrell lost his ontiro theatrical wardrobe and manuscripts. The effects of the Westwood giants, wh’oh have just been re-c,-ived from New Zealnnd, are also supposed to have been lost. The insurances on Steelman's amount to £21,300. The New Zealand Office has a risk of £2OOO, and the South British £2500. ‘ . Of Edwards, Dunlop and Co..s insurances ibe National bus £6500. The Grand Central was insured for £2700. t .. .. Detailed insurances are not available,