DISASTROUS FIRES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2053, 3 December 1907, Page 2

DISASTROUS FIRES.

TIIE MELBOURNE OUTBREAK. Baited Press Association —Copyright MELBOURNE, Dec. 2. The fire raged for hours. It threatened to demolish the whole block hounded by Elizabeth, Lonsdale, Swanston, and Little Bourko streets. 'Die fire started in a blind alley among a great pile of packing cases and straw, .stacked up against the rear portion of Clarlc_and Co.’s warehouse. Floor after floor of the warehouse gave way. The fire had defied the efforts of tiie brigade for some hours when Clark’s was on fire, and it steered northward. The great crest of flame swept over to the money order office in the post office block. The walls of Clark and Co.’s warehouse fell, and the small shops beneath became a mass of red-hot bricks and blazing timber. With this crash went the relics of early Melbourne. These shops, which cracked like egg-sliells, were built in 1844. The wind fortunately changed to the south, and the pressure on the post office was relieved. The more serious results of the fire were confined to Clark and Co.’s and Will la ell's buildings, where the postal material was stored, DAMAGE £IOO,OOO. (Received Dec. 3, 0.20 a.m.) MELBOURNE, Dec. 2. Tho hospital was in grave danger from the fire for some time, but a force of artillery quenched the burning particles as they fell on the buildings. At one time the window screens of tlie operating theatre were on fire. An amended estimate states the loss approximately at £IOO,OOO. The Federal Government had nfo insurance.

„ ANOTHER BIG FIRE. MELBOURNE, Dec. 2. A block of eight two-storied shops was destroyed by fire at AVest Melbourne. £40,000 DAMAGE AT LONGREACH* BRISBANE, Dec. 2. For the third time in a decade the business portion of Longreacli has been swept by fire. It broke out in a paint shop and spread, with great rapidity. A large quantity of explosives in one store, together with an -acetylene generator, exploded, shattering windows in the vicinity.. Tho Imperial hotel which is one, of the finest- country hotels in Queensland, costing £IO,OOO, was among tlie places destroyed. The damage is estimated at £40,000.