DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Kumara Times, Issue 185, 8 May 1877, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Shortly before ten o’clock last nigh t the premises of Mr Tudbali, known as the “ West of England Store and Butchery/’ were found to be on fire. Mr Tudbali who lives On the premises had taken-his Wife to the concert at the 'Theatre Royal, and leaving her there had returned home, where he was engaged writing in the sitting room, With, his assistant; His attention was attracted,' at aboilt. the time We have mentioned, to a strong light shining through the window of the door opening On to the shop. He immediately ran into the shop where he found that, there WasaflrC behind the counter; He called to his man to bring-a bucket of water Which he did* but Without extinguishing the names. At this time Constables M'Carthy and Hatton, With others, brokeJua through the front door, thus admitting a Current of air and though, h*Uherc then been a Supply of Water handy, the flames might yet have been kept in cheek* it soon became evident that there were no hopes of saving the biiiidingi The alarm had noW become' general and a large crowd had assembled in front of the premises. Blankets Were speedfly'spread over the house of Mr Brown, shoemaker,, hext door, being kept constantly saturated preserjpd his premises from which* however* all the furniture had been removed. On .the other side a house, also owned by Mr Tudbali, was in the occupation of Dr Keiran and Mr Barry. .”*? absence of any means of extinguishing the fire in the store, all efforts were turned to the prevention of the names spreading, by pulling down this adjoining hottse. With some difficulty this task was successfully accomplished, and as the,rein was now falling heavily it was seen that the fir© bad done its worst. Mr Tudbali had a very la-ge stock andestimateshis loss at over 5, 2000. He has saved almost nothing* He J?* insured for £1250 in the. South British insurance Cbiopany. This was for stock and store the private houses were Uninsured; . Amongst those who did good/service inpreve»>ting the Spread, of the fire Were several ex-ntefii-bers of the. Grey mouth and Hokitika ftre Brigades, - But' for their exertions there cap be little doubt that, on the One side* iiityscai’a Rotel and, on the other, the buildings up to. Seddon-atroet bcen deStroyedi