NEW SOUTH WALES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 565, 2 April 1868, Page 4

NEW SOUTH WALES.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN GEORGE-STREET, SYDNEY. (From the Sydney Morning Herald, 2nd March.) A eiee of a very alarming character broke out yesterday afternoon in the stores of Mr J. B. Holdsworth, ironmonger, situated at the rear of his shop in George-street. The tire-alarm bells were rung about about 3 - 30 p.m., and soon the city was in a state of comma-

Lion. ii.n immense crowd of persons speedily collected in the neighborhood of the fire, and fresh accessions to therm mbers were made every minute. At one time there could not have been less than from 12,000 to 15,000 people collected in Pitt, Market, and Georgestreets. The Insurance Fire Brigade were not long before they arrived with their engines in the vicinity of the fire, and were soon followed by the No 1 and No. 2 Volunteer Fire Companies with their engines, But for some time after the arrival of the engines, great difficulty was experienced in procuring a supply of water; however, when water, was obtainable, it was thrown on to the burning building and the buildings contiguous to it very unsparingly, the two steam fire engines working very admirably, and throwing immense streams of water on the fire. Whilst waiting for the water, the fire made such headway, that there seemed at one time but little chance of saving any of the surrounding buildings. A north-east wind was blowing, and the Crown and Anchor Inn, at the corner of Market and George-streets, and the buildings on the north side of Marketstreet, were in imminent danger, so much so, that a quantity of furniture was removed from one of them. But the continuous and copious supply of water prevented such a calamity taking place. It was known from the first that gunpowder, and a large quantity of kerosene oil was stored on the burning premises, and a great deal of caution had to be exercised by the firemen) and others in approaching the building; I this for some time greatly impeded,! them in their labor, and prevented; them from rendering that assistance they were willing and capable ot rendering. When the fire had been burning for about half-an-hour or so, an explosion took place, which completely shook the earth forsome distance round. It was at once known that the devouring element had reached the gunpow der and kerosene. The people rushed in all directions, and is astonishing that an accident of some kind was not the result. A succession of explosions followed, which could be heard over most parts of the city. The dense volumes of smoke which rose after each report swept along the streets in a sou-westeily direction,enveloping them in darkness, and forcing the people back. By this time, a large reinforcement of police, under inspector Read, arrived on the spot, and the people were kept back out of danger, and were prevented from obstructing the firemen in the performance of their duty. A number of seamen from H.M.S. Galatea rendered good service by assisting in the removal of a large quantity of kerosene and other property out of Mr Holdsworth’s store. It may be mentioned, too, that Lord Newry was present aiding the firemen with the hose and otherwise assisting in extinguishing the fire. The fire raged with unabated fury for upwards of three hours before any signs of declension were observed, notwithstanding the immense volume of water that was constantly poured on to it. So intense was the heat that molten metal was running about in all directions at the base of the building. About 8 p.m. the store was completely gutted, and the fire was rapidly sucumbing. The engines continued at work, however, for two hours or more after that, when it was found that their services could he dispensed with. All night, however, water was poured on the smouldering a cur is oy means of hydrants. The extensive drapery establishment of Messrs Farmer, Painter, and Pope had a very narrow escape from destructio* T„ 1 * , ■ , “ it nut, occu ior a strong party-wall which divides the establish* ment from Mr Holdsworth’s store, nothing could have saved it. As it was ♦Vus AiA :♦ - 9 s. uv um tuaixc ato Waj liltO U B&dll closet at tli6 rear of tho millinery department, but it was fortunately discovered in time, an speedily extinguished. A hydrant was layed on from Pitt-street, through Messrs Far-

mer, Painter, and Pope’s establishment, and partly by this means the fire was, kept- back. This establishment has luckily received scarcely any damage, and that only by water. The store that has been destroyed was three stories high, and was divided into three buildings. The stock consisted of general ironmongery, manilla cordage, and other goods usually to he met with in large wholesale stores of this description. The origin of the fire is a mystery, nor is it known for certain in what part of the building it broke ■ut. Mr Bown, superintendent of the Fire Brigade, who was one of the first at the fire, is of opinion that it originated on the first floor of the back store. The building was a substantial brick one; it is now totally destroyed. It was the properly of Mrs Durdekin, and was insured in the Norwich Union and United Offices but to what amount could not he ascertained. The stock is insured in different offices, but the amount of insurance could not be ascestained last night. The amount of damage done bv this fire is roughly estimated at £IO,OOO or 12,000. Nothing definite can be known, however, until an examination of what remains has taken place. Two or three accidents occerred during the fire. One of the Insurance Fire Brigade, Thomas Cocksedge, had the misfortune to fall from a ladder, a height of about twenty feet. He was immediately conveyed to lho Infirmary, where lie lay insensible lor about half-an-hour; uu bones were broken, and it is believed that he is not seriously injured. Another member of the brigade, John Bowden, had his leg injured. Ho, too, was taken to the Infirmary, bu f was disenargeu alter having his wounH dressed.

The explosion of gunpowder or kerosene, which took phii e soon after the tire broke out threw up ouantitles of; sparks, smiie ol which wore carried by the wind into \ork-strcct, where they set fire to the roof of Mr Friend’s (iromnongr) private residence. Two or three ot the Insurance Brigade proceeded at once to the place, and, having ascended the roof, extinguished the tire, heb'.re any damage worthy of notice had been done.

The Insurance Fire Brigade had two manual engines and their steam engine at the fire, and during the greater part of the time that the (ire was raging, had no less than live streams of water pouring on to ir. Tue steam engine was placed in Pitt street. The No. 2 Volunteer Company had their steam fire engine stationed in George street. The No. I "Volunteer Company’s manual engine was also stationed in George-stnet.

(From the Sydney Morning Herald, 3rd March.)

The debris occasioned through the fire at the stores of Mr J. B. Holds worth, ironmonger, on Sunday, continued smouldering until about 5 o’clock yesteiday evening, when the Insurance Brigade, who have been in charge of the premises since the fire, removed the hydrants. From a survey of the place yesterday, it would appear that loss occasioned by this fire is much greater than was at lust expected; a very large quantity of goods having beeu destroyed in the large store at the northern side of the back part of the front shop in addition to the total destruction ot the back stores together with the large stock they contained. Ihe stock which was contained in the store on the northern side of the front shop was insured in the Northern Office for £2OOO, in the Imoerial Office £IO,OOO, in the Liverpool London and Globe Insurance Office for £3OOO in the Sydney Office for £SOOO. and in the Alliance Office for £3soo—making a total of 23,500. The stock in the back stores where the fire broke out, and which were totally destroyed was insured in the Northern Office for £4OOO, and in the Pacific for £4OOO

total, &owv ; tne building was insured in the Norwich Union Office for 500. Mr Pearson s furniture, some of which was damaged by removal or water, was insured in the Royal Office. ! "Pi. . £ i n * j.uc uve imuuiugs lu uie occupation of Messrs Roberts, Kirby, M‘Koy, Bent, and Stone, in Market-street, form pari of the Macdonald estate, and were insured m the Liverpool and London Office for £SOOO. Portions of the roofs of these buildings were damaged partly by fire and partly by the removal ot shingles or slates. The back part of the two houses, in the occupa-

tion of Messrs Pearson and Potter, has been damaged by the fixe ; the fire got under the eaves, and destroyed portions of the roof; and nearly all the window’s in the back were destroyed, x tie uUiidings are the property ol Mrs Burdekin, and are insured.