DISASTROUS FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1495, 30 November 1878, Page 3

DISASTROUS FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

[By Telegeaph.l

The following further particulars are from the correspondent of the “ Press Dunedin, November 29.

A few minutes before five o’clock this morning an alarm of fire in Bell Ward was raised from the tower station, and a lurid glare at once shewed the locale to be a short I distance from below the Octagon. The fire is supposed to have originated at the rear of Walton and Schott’s, the photographers ; but as there had been no fires used there during the week, the origin remains a mystery. The firemen were slow in putting in an appearance, and when at last they did show up, there seemed to be a want of organisation on the part of the brigade. On the one side the flames spread rapidly to the promises occupied by Messrs Murphy (bootmaker), Richardson (saddler), and the Rainbow Hotel at the corner, and on the other side to the shops of Messrs Millichamp (aawmaker), S. Doodeward (general dealer), Dreaver (draper), and Brown (plumber). The large building recently used for the purposes of the carnival on the opposite side of the street suffered much from the great heat, Mr luglis’ principal damage being to the large plate windows, which it will take fully £2OO to replace. Some idea of the intensity of the heat when the fire was at its height may be gathered from the fact that some pictures displayed close to the windows were burnt out of their frames. Some clever people, after saving a good deal of furniture and goods from the premises that were destroyed, placed them in the channelling and on the footpath in front of Inglis’ shop, the consequence being that the great heat soon caused them to ignite, and the flames began to find their way up the shop shutters. The prompt application of a hose, however, removed nil fear of danger from that source. Messrs Schott and Walton lose their all. Up to about six weeks ago they had been fully insured with the South British and Northern offices, but at that time Mr Walton,who hns the management of the business, neglected to renew the policies, and, though repeatedly reminded of the matter by his partner, he failed to again take them up. Their loss is estimated at between £4OO and £SOO, the show cases alone being saved. Mr Brown had carried out his wife and children, and was returning to his place to secure his coat (containing a pocket-book with £4O and some bills), when the fiie spread with such rapidity as to cause him to desist. He was insured for £2OO in the Colonial office, and estimates his loss at £I2OO. Mr Murphy was insured in , the same office for £IOO, Mr Doodeward’s stock was insured for £2OO. His loss is about £6OO beyond that sum. There was also a policy of £l5O on the building. Mr Tondut states that he was awakened by his dog scratching at his bedroom door. On getting up to see the cause he found that the shed at the back of the photographic gallery was on fire, and almost immediately the entire building broke out into flames. His piano, and some jewellery were saved. The stock, personal effects, and furniture, were insured for £SOO in the South British, and for £260 in the New Zealand office, while the building was insured for £4OO in the South British in the name of Mr Matheson, the owner. Mr Tondut had a policy effected on the 21at of this month for £2OO with the South British Company on some wines in a cellar under Scott and Walton’s, and about three months ago another with the Colonial Company for £250 on stock, furniture, and effects. His losses amount to £I4OO or £ISOO Mr Millichamp is a very heavy loser, his only insurance being for £3OO on stock with the Norwich Union Co. Mr Richardson’s stock was iusured in the New Zealand office for £350. The stock of Mr Dreaver was insured for £3OO in the Standard office (which amount was re-insured with the Phoenix), and for £4OO in the Union. The furniture was insured in the Standard for £IOO. He estimates his loss at £IOOO over insurances. The Standard Co. have a risk of £2OO in the name of Mr F. Fulton on the buildings occupied by Messrs Millichamp, Dreaver, and Brown. Neither the National nor the Victoria companies were involved.