DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5253, 24 January 1878, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Christchdkch, 23rd January. A serious fire occurred this morning, in a block of buildings bounded by Colombo and Cashel streets, being the centre business part of the city. It commenced at the back o| the premises of J. Barrett, hairdresser, and quickly extended on both sides, north and south. It had obtained a strong hold before the alarm was sounded, and before the fire brigade, which turned out smartly, had got properly to work, the shops occupied by Barker, commission a"ent, and Scrimshaw’s furniture warehouse, on the south side, were in flames, also Roberts’ watchmaker’s shop, on the north, and the flames were making their way through the windows of the brick partition wall of the A 1 Hotel, which was three stories high. Superintendent Harris being unfortunately out of town the efforts of the fire brigade were not bo well directed as usual. After a time a scarcity of water was also experienced. The brigade arrested the progress of the fire on the south side after it had partially damaged the shop of Phillips, clothier, next to Scrimshaw ; but while the brigade were endeavoring to save the A 1 Hotel, the fire_ communicated round the rear of the hotel with the shops of Lane, butcher, Beath, draper, and Watt, draper, Oashel-street. The brigade, after all, failed to save the A 1 Hotel, which was completely destroyed, and had a hard fight to prevent the fire extending along Oashel-street to High-street. The fire raged for three hours. The following damage was done,, viz A 1 Hotel, containing about fifty rooms ; Scrimshaw’s, Parker's, Barrett's, aud Huberts shops were totally destroyed. Phillips’ 'shop and , stock were damaged. The back premises of Beath's drapery shop were destroyed, and the Btock in the front shop damaged. The stock of Pratt, draper, is also damaged. No particulars as to amount of damage or insurances are yet obtainable. The origin of the fire is unknown. The following are the insurances on the premises destroyed, from which very little Stock was Saved; New Zealand, £250 ; National, £3650, half reinsured ; _ Transatlantic, £IOOO ; Norwich Union, £250 ; Hamburg and Bremen, £750 ; Standard, £2oo , New Zealand, £IOO ; London, Liverpool, and Globe, £1950 ; Phcenix, £ISOO ; South British, £I7OO ; Northern, £IOOO ; Britannia, £ISOO. Insurance on buildings and stock damaged . Victoria, £IOOO ; London and Lancashire, £IOOO ; South British, £ISOO ; Transatlantic, £SOO ; Phoenix, £SOO ; Standard, £IOOO.