Disastrous Fire at New Plymouch.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 141, 20 May 1885, Page 3

Disastrous Fire at New Plymouch.

ESTIMATED DAMAGE £20,000.

(UNITED PBKBS ASSOCIATION.) New Plymouth, Tursd.iy.

The largest fire, for years occurred shortly after one o'clock this morning m tho block of buildings, of which Courtney's auction mart formed the centre, and m the shop connected with which the fire is supposed to have commenced. Wh*n the alarm was givon the fire had a good hold of the buildings, Stokes' (jeweller), the two empty shops ou either side of it, Sole Bros., butchers, New Zealand Clothing Factory, Mr CaUa^ian's grocer aud bakery soon followed, the fire bwini? stopped at thatrnd by the railway lino separating it from Brasch and Co.'s fancy warehouse. On the other side Ford's draper, and Jackson & Lightband's shoemak'-rs, soon followed. The backs of the houses m Broiiga'ii-vtreet, on the other sidtvof the railway line, also at one time caught, but the tire was extinguished. The Imperial il«.t,-l w«a say, d by the' great exertions ol the fire brigade. During the firo it was pouring with rain, so most of the goods that weie saved, but not boused, were damaged. The wind was blowing a gule from the sea, which causwd Ui«j fire to extend, notwithstanding the efforts of the fire brigade and the supply of water being good. Later. In addition to those mentioued the following buildings werebiirnt :—Moffiliu and Dingle's furniture-: warehouse, m Brougham- street, caught from th» back ; Owen and Graham's sample-room, at the back of Ford's draper ; Mrs Sarten's two-storied house iv Currie Lane ; ColsQti's two cottages ; Mrs Cullaghan's bake-house and stables ; and Courtney'slull, which, till lately, was used by the Salvation Army, as a meeting house*. The total amount said to be insured is £10,000. Property worth, about £20,000 was dustroyed.