The Wellington Fire.

Manawatu Herald, 28 January 1905, Page 3

The Wellington Fire.

HEAVY INSURANCES AND L'RGE LOSSES.

The fire at the D,I.C. appears to have originated in the tailoring department on the first floor. The tailors were working until eleven o’clock the previous night. The building was a low rambling one, the different departments being separated merely by wooden partitions. The fire spread rapidly and the brigade had all its work cut out to prevent it spreading to the adjoining premises. Insurances total £85,700, made up as follows: Stock, £60,000 ; building, £21,500 ; fixtures, £3800; plate glass windows, £4OO, Mr Corrigan, the manager, estimates the value of the stock at about £70,000.

The damage to the premises of the Economic is much more extensive than was at first anticipated. This firm (George and Kersley) state they carry a stock of drapery, etc., valued at between £30,000 and £40,000, and they further state that nearly the whole of this has been damaged by smoke and water, while a portion has been completely destroyed, and they are not yet able to estimate their loss.

In connection with the fire a remarkable feature was the escape of the buildings in the vicinity and of a large number of old wooden building. Several caught alight, but the efforts of onlookers averted what probably would have been the most destructive conflagration ever experienced in the city. The insurances on the Economic stock total £18,200.