GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1589, 8 September 1873, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

FIFTY-EIGHT BUILDINGS DES- '[ TROYED. [A NGIiO -AUSTRALIAN" PRESS TELEGRAPH AGENCY.] Auckland, Sept. 7. The largest and most destructive fire that has ever occurred in Auckland broke out in the centre of Queen's street a 1 ; 12 o'clock last night. The fire was discovered in Powley's millinery establishment. The Fire Brigades were soon on the spot, but water being scarce their services were almost useless. The whole west side of Queen street, from the bottom of Cook street, is in ashes, and also the. lower half cf Wellesley street. Altogether fiftyeight buildings were burned down. Whitson's brewery, the new market, and east side of Queen street, had a narrow escape, being several times on fire. A large number of buildings were uninsured, and the estimated loss of the various companies is L 25,001). The New Zealand, Norwich, Union, Royal, and South British are the heaviest losers — about L4OOO each. It is impossible to gather correct particulars of the loss of each company. The balance is in the Scottish Company, Victoria, Northern, and Liverpool and London. The total destruction of property is estimated at about L6Q,000. Darby's Thistle Hotel and the two adjoining buildings were insured for LIOOO only in the New Zealand, and the Btock and furniture for L7OO in the Liverpool

and London. He estimates his loss at L4OOO. The United Service Hotel, owned by Mr Hancock, was insured for about L 3500, including stock. Hancock loses L2OOO, and on other properties altogether about L4OOO and LSOOO above his insurance. The previous day he had taken

in LBOO worth of" stock. The Anchor Hotel, owned by Mr King, was partly insured. The Central Hotel (owner, Whitson), was insured.

The following is a list of the principal plactes destroyed :— ln Queen street— Darby's Thistle Hotel ; Caley, baker ; Smith, green grocer; Young, butoher: Currie, blacksmith ; Newmegen, pawnbroker ; Page's Central Hotel ; Schwartz, watchmaker and jeweller ; Powley's millinery establishment ; Jamison Bros., boot warehouse ;. Mathiesou, confectioner ; Broad, locksmith; Grey,' confectioner ; Blair & Lambert, grocers ; Watson,grocer ; Hancock's United Service Hotel ; Marks, pawnbroker ; Bartlett, photographer ; Dunning, greengrocer ; Broakes, bootmaker ; Hemnes; bootmaker ; .Williams, chemist ; Aery, watchmaker ; Henderson, bootmaker; Harrison, tobacconist; , Marsh, grocer; Saunders, tailor ; Barnett, pork butcher ; -Furriner, watchmaker ; Williams's Anchor Hotel ; Lendrum's livery and bait stables

Buildings destroyed in Willesley street — Webb's buildings ; Posseniskie,; tailor-; Mair, grocer ; Coupland's hay store ; Ward, paperhanger ; china bazaar.;

There were several accidents. Three firemen fell from a verandah, and James Fuljames was seriously injured. Charles Bowden dropped dead in the street. During the fire, Williams, proprietor of the Anchor Hotel, broke a blood vessel, and lies dangerously ill.

During the fire, a N.E. gale was blowing. Heavy rain commenced immediately after, and it has continued since.