GREAT FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1448, 22 March 1873, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

[OTAGO DAILY TIMES, MARCH 13.] The large wooden building in Cumberland street — opposite the Distillery, and which was lately much extended and improved — in which Messrs Gibbs and Clayton had their saw and planing mills and sash and door factory ; Mr Spicer his tub, bucket, and washboard factory ; Mr Rendle . a turner's business ; and Messrs Goldsmith a bone-crushing establishment, was destroyed by fire this morning. The information which we have been able to gather as to the origin and discovery of the fire is this : — The night-watchman at the Distillery, Mr Clark, wa3 at the Distillery gate at about 20 minutes to 12, and then saw no signs of fire in Messrs Gibb3 and Clayton's. After having made a round of the Distillery premises, he — at about five minutes past 12 — noticed smoke apparently above the Distillery gate. On going as far the gate he saw a black cloud of smoke over the whole of Messrs Gibbs and Clayton's building. It seemed to rise highest and densest from the end in which the engine was situate, and he noticed a bright glare on the other side of the building, but cculd see no flames. He then raised the alarm, and almost immediately the nre : bell rang. A lad who was awakened by somebody calling out "Fire!" at his door, informs us that when he went to the burning building the only persons he saw were Bachelor, a man who is employed in the building and another man, and that the three of them set to work and succeeded in getting some of the saws out. The fire spread along the lower floor, in which it was confined for a time, so that when the flames appeared, they broke out from every part of the building almost simultaneously. By a quarter past 12 the whole of the large factory was enveloped in flames, which rose with a great roar and crackling noise, and passed across the street and almost over the malthouse of the Distillery, a building with iron roof and walls, except the side facing the street, and 66ft from the factory, which side is of wood. There was much fear of the flames taking hold of this side; but the wind being very light the flamea kept a good height, and from the large hose of the Distillery a constant stream of water was being dashed against the doubtful wooden wall. Had this hose burst before the others were brought into operation, and when the fire was raging fiercely, the flames would most likely have seized at least the malt-house and the Distillery cottages, if not the Distillery proper and the foundries. Fortunately, the fire did not cross the street, so there was only one mass of flames to contend with. It may here be mentioned that by about a quarter past 12 a number of the firemen had a hose playing on the burning building, and by about 20 minutes past 12 all the apparatus was on the ground. Everything waa done with great promptitude, and the firemen are deserving of the highest praise for the gallant manner in which they worked in so intense a heat. There was great fear that the timber in the yard, of which there was a very large quantity, would catch, but fortunately It did not, and a very high pile of enormous logs appeared to be quite indifferent to the heat, although the crane which had if ted them into their position blazed urioualy. Flakes of burning material,

and some of which were of pretty large size, rose in the air to a great height, but the exposed woodwork of the adjoining houses being thoroughly wet by the rain that had been falling for the previous 24 hours, they gave little cause for apprehension. At about 20 minutes to one, by which time the flaming mass had been to an extent subdued by the streams of water, poured in upon it, the wind changed, taking the flames away from the direction of the Distillery, and sending them in the direction of Great King street. It was then seen that all risk to the Distillery — provided the wind did not again turn the flames in the direction of the malt-house, and it did not — was over. The breeze, as it changed, became stronger, and some . timber, and one or two cottages belonging to Messrs Gibbs and Clayton, were burnt, but the flames were kept from extending into the timber yard, which for some time was w danger, and there fortunately was a vacant section between the burning building and the houses next to it in. the direction of St. Andrew street. We were unable to learn anything whatever as to the origin of the fire, further than it appears to have commenced in or near the engine-room. It is said that light was noticed in the building at 20 or 10 minutes to 12 by a gentleman connected with an insurance office, as he was going homewards along Moray Place and Great King street. The building and stock are insured. The amount, we have heard, is L4OOO, but we do not state that authoritatively as correct. The value of the building and its contents is estimated at about L6OOO, and we are informed there was a larger amount of stock in it at the time of the fire than ever before, the usual business arrangements being disturbed owing to a contemplated removal of a portion of the business to Princes street south. The following are the particulars regarding the losses and the insurances : — Messrs Gibbs and Clayton's estimated loss is L 5950. They are insured in the New Zealand, LIOOO ; South British, LI 000 5 Victoria, L 50 0; Scottish Commercial, L 500; in all, L3soo— leaving a sum of L 2450 not covered by insurance, to say nothing of loss arising from suspension of business. On two cottages, their property — one of which was burned, and the other wrecked — there was an insurance of LIOO, divided among the South British, New Zealand, Victoria, and Scottish Commercial Companies. Mr J. R. Spicer is insured in the New Zealand for L 450, and estimates his loss at LSOO, being LSO not covered by insurance. Mr Goldsmith, who is insured in the Victoria for LIOO on stock, and LSO in the New Zealand Office on his bone-crushing machines, estimates his loss at L2O, which is on stock. Messrs Wm. Asher and Co., whose timber is insured in the New Zealand Office for L2OOO, estimate their loss roughly at L 250, through the ends of the timber in some of the stacks being burned. Messrs Rendle and Co.'s is an unfortunate case. They are totally uninsured, and put down their loss at LBOO. Over 70 men and boys are thrown out of work through this fire.