FIRES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 11

FIRES.

A DUNEDIN FIRE.

DAMAGE ABOUT £30,000, [Per Press Association.]

DUNEDIN, January 1

Shortly after nine o’clock a fire broke out in the premises of Messrs Biug, Harris and Co., warehousemen, in Higli Street. It originated in the tobacco department, and it is conjectured, that tho fire was duo to overheating of tobacco. Tho premises had been closed since December 24, and so "far ns is known no one had entered them since’. The fire was confined to a comparatively small space upstairs, and the damage, which appears to be very extensive, was not nearly so much due to lire as to water. The five originated upstairs, and the water descended in copious quantities to the flats beneath, and this necessarily damaged fabrics and other goods stocked. The damage was further added to by the faot that the floors have a slight slope, and’ steps - m the same direction as tho. slope of High Street, and consequently the water ran pretty well all over the building. The damage is roughly approximated ■at £30,000. This is, of course, largely guesswork. Tho insurance on stock is roughly put . down at £50,000 or £60,000, the risk being divided among nearlar all the offices in town. The building, which is not much damaged, is insured for something like £6OOO or £7OOO. Very little difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the fire_ once its locality was ascertained, but it had acquired such a hold that extensive use of water became necessary. The building did not contain an automatic fire alarm, otherwise the damage done, according to export opinion, would have been a mere bagatelle.

At 9.30 last night the Lyttelton Fire Brigade was called out to a fire in the Regatta Club’s rooms on Gladstone Pier. The blaze was quickly extinguished, but considerable damage was done to. the interior of the building by the fire, which. was caused, it is believed, by fireworks.