Big Blaze in Melbourne.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 3 December 1907, Page 4

Big Blaze in Melbourne.

Melbourne, Dec. i. A destructive fire started at 10 o’clock last night in Clark’s fancy goods importers’ warehouse, a five-storeyed building in Elizabeth Street, adjoining at the rear the Commonwealth telegraph and money order offices in Little Bourke street. The blaze spread with tremendous rapidity, resulting in the envelopment of Wallach’s large furniture warehouse in Elizabeth Street, adjoining Clark’s, the Dux cycle works, the oldest-established business of the kind in Melbourne, and a number of smaller places. _ Various adjoining properties suffered severely. The whole of the city was brilliantly lighted, and an immense concourse watched the progress of the fire. A crowded verandah opposite the outbreak collapsed, and several persons were injured. The fire was the largest that has occurred for 12 years, and the value of the property destroyed is close on ,£60,000. An official report states that the Postal Department lost £,16,000 worth of material, and that it is feared considerable public inconvenience will be caused by the loss of telephone instruments and wire.