Great Fire at Sydney.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3632, 3 April 1906, Page 3

Great Fire at Sydney.

WAREHOUSES DESTROYED,

SMOULDERING DEBRIS LEFT.

FLAMES SPREAD WITH GREAT RAPIDITY.

FINE WORK BY THE BRIGADES.

Sydney, March 31. One of the fiercest fires experienced in Sydney occurred on Saturday morning. It started about 2 o’clock in a block of warehouses extending from Clarence street to Kent street, and before 4 o’clock had completely gutted several large business premises. The outbreak was discovered in a six-story warehouse occupied by the Edwards Quhlop Company, wholesale stationers, Clarence street. The flames spread to a six-story wharehouse occupied by the James Stedmaa Company, wholesale confectioners, extending at the fear into Kent street. Both premises were stocked with immense quantities of inflammable material, and the flames travelled with lightning rapidity, the intense heat and surrounding buildings preventing the brigades getting at close quarters. The efforts of the brigadesmen were directed to saving the Grand Central Hotel, adjoining Stedman’s where great excitement prevailed amongst a large number of inmates, who made a hurried exit into the street, the hotel being cleared by order of the brigades. One corner of the hotel caught fire, but by strenuous efforts the brigade succeeded In saving the building after considerable damage had been done to some of the top stories. In the meantime several other buildings became involved in destruction, and it looked as if the whole block would be swept out. The Berlin Piano Company’s premises and a large building occupied by a firm of signwriters were gutted. The Websdale Shoesmith • Company’s printing building and Skinner’s Luggage Agency caught, but the work of the brigades was now beginning to tell and they managed to check the fire before any serious damage was done to these premises. The burning debris was carried to an immense distance, and set fire to the roofs of buildings in the adjoining streets. Detachments of firemen were detailed and extinguished these outbreaks. The flames shot across Kent street, and as there was danger of a dwelling catching Are, the inmates sought the safety of themselves and belongings in the streets. The danger was greatly increased by the fall of Stedman’s wall, which, in falling, demolished the other buildings. A rough calculation places the damage at £159,000. The buildings involved are The Edwards Dunlop Company, James Stedman Company, Berlin Piano Company, Legge Company, whose premises were completely gutted. The Grand Central Hotel had the three top stories damaged by fire and water. Skinner’s Luggage Agency was badly damaged. The Websdale Shoesmith printing premises were slightly damaged by fire and water. Dickens’s art furniture rooms, and Cole Brothers’ printing and manufacturing premises were demolished by falling walls. In York street ihe roofs of two other warehouses and an hotel were damaged by fire from falling debris. Nothing remains of the great . warehouses but a smouldering debris. Kent street is covered wi|h great piles of fallen bricks. In this street the enormous ravages of the fire are apparent. The Clarence street frontage does not show the damage to the same extent, what wind there was carrying the fire from Clarence street to Kent street. The saving of the Grand Central Hotel was little short of marvellous the four top floors beiug on fire at one time. The torrents of water poured into the building has done immense damage to the contents. Stedman’s and Dunlop's premises were completely burnt out. The latter carries Insurances to the extent .of ,£75,800. Through the partial destruction of Skinner’s Luggage Agency, Mr George Darrell lost his entire theatrical wardrobe, manuscripts and effects. The "Westwood Giants,” which had just been received from New Zealand, are idio supposed to have been lost. The insurances on Stedman’s amount to ,£21,300. The New * Zealand office has a risk of /200, the South British ,£2500. Of the Edwards Dunlop Company’s insurances the National has .£6500. The Grand Central Hotel is in•ttfed for