Fires in Wellington.

Manawatu Herald, 7 March 1893, Page 2

Fires in Wellington.

The cooperage works of Mr Chalmer, ou Waterloo Quay, were totally destroyed by fire at six o'clock on Sunday morning. The building was fall of stock, including 600 tons of coopers' staves, which were stacked ready for shipment by the brigantine Sarah Pile for Queensland. The machinery, which was only recently erected, and which Chalmers says was the most valuable of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, was totally destroyed. Chalmers estimates the total loss at £8,500. The insurances on the building and stock amount to £1200 : in the New Zealand office, part of which is believed to be reinsured in | other offices. J The damage to the building and | stock of the Farmers' Alliance, whose premises were close to the works is about £15U. Their stock | is insured for £400 in the United Insurance office, bnt it is not known whether there is any insurance on the build ng, which is owned by T. C Williams. When the firemen were returning from the fire, about eight o'clo-k, the bells rang out another alarm, the outbreak being on board the ship Auckland, which tsras lying at the Railway wharf, about 800 yards from the site of Chalmers' building. Dense smoke was pouring out of the stern port-holes, and on boarding the vessel the firemen ascertained tha s •&• of the fi e wa9 in the pantry the flames having a firm hold. After some stubborn work the fire was subdued, but not before a considerable portion of the cargo, which consisted cf wool and flax, had been saturated with water. The ship's ftrew had been fighting the flames for half an hour before the alarm was given. The vessel was fully loaded and it is> expected most of her cargo will have to be dis» charged. The damage to the vessel 19 estimated at £100, but the extent of the damage to the cargo cannot be ascertained until it is discharged. Capt. James was out of town whfn the fire occurred — Press Association.