Great Fire in Auckland.

Hastings Standard, Issue 428, 17 September 1897, Page 2

Great Fire in Auckland.

A BIG FURNITURE WAREHOUSE

DESTROYED

DAMAGE TO THE EXTENT OF £IO,OOO DONE.

[By Telegraph.]

(Per Press Association.)

Auckland, This day. At 11.20 last night a fire broke out in a large furniture warehouse bjy< longing to Tonson Garliek and Queen street. The fire spread alarming rapidity, owing to the inflammable character of the contents. The outbreak was not noticed till the smoke issued from the windows and doors and the flames shot through the roof at the roar. The company's brick factory on the opposite side of Lome street, where the furniture is made up, is safe and untouched. Later. One of the most destructive fires which Auckland has experienced for some time broke out last night at twenty minutes past 11 o'clock in the packing room of the extensive warehouse of the Tonson Garliek Furniture Company, Ltd., and which was not put out until early this morning after damage had been occasioned to the extent of several thousands pounds to the buildings and stock. Constable Waterman on Qneenstreet beat, saw volumes of smoke issuing out of the windows and doors of the packing department of the warehouse.

Almost instantly, owing to the inflammable material inside, the flames shot through the -roofing. It was seen from the outset that the lire would be destructive, owing to the huge stock of furniture and household furnishing of every description that crowded the various floors, galleries, and the extensive cellarages.

The firemen had to light the fire from four points. Between one and two o'clock they had practically saved the ground floor divisions of the warehouse on Queen - street frontage from actual destruction by fire.

In the south end (the fnrnisbing department) the stock was injured by smoke and water, and the same may be said of the furniture and suites department.

The stock in the [two-story department is partially if not wholly destroyed bv fire.

The other departments are practically gutted and the stock destroyed.

The Furniture Company's fatorcy situate on the opposite side of Lorna street escaped unscathed.. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire. The premises were locked up at G.lO p.m. by storeman Kearney. There had been no light or fire used during the day in the division of the warehouses where the lire appeared to have risen.

Mr Garleck estimates the damage approximately at over £IO,OOO oti the stock' and buildings. The following are the insurances on the Queen street buildings and stock : —Buildings : South British, old buildings, £1500; Commercial Union, £IOOO on the old buildings and £BOO on the new buildings; Royal, £IOOO on the old buildings ; New Zealand, £BOOO on the new buildings ; total, £7BOO. Stock : £IOOO in National, £IOOO in New Zealand, £IOOO in Royal, £2OOO in Palatine, £IOOO in North British, £IOOO in Commercial Union, £IOOO in Phcenix, £IOOO in Manchester, £IOOO in Rcyal Exchange, £IOOO in another office; total, £II,OOO. Total, buildings and stock, £IB,OOO.