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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5260, 1 February 1878, Page 3

CnMSTOHUKCH, 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 of the premises of J. Barrett, hairdresser, and quickly extended on both-sides', north and south. It hail obtained a strong hold before the alarm was sounded, and before the fire brigade, which turned out smartly, bad got properly to work, the shops occupied by Parker, commission agent, 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 so well directed as usual. After a tmo 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, Heath, draper, and Watt, draper, Cashel-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 Cashel-street to High-street. The fire raged for three hours. The following damage wasf done, viz ; —AI Hotel, containing about fifty rooms ; Scrimshaw’s, Parker’s, Barrett’s, and Roberts’ shops were totally destroyed. Phillips’ shop and stock were’ damaged. The back premises of Boath’s drapery shop were destroyed, and the stock in the front simp damaged. The stock of Pratt, draper, 1< also damaged. No particulars as In amount of damage or insurances arc yet obtainable. The origin of tho fire is unknown. The following are the insurances oh 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, £250 ; New Zealand, £100’; Lorn ion, Liverpool, and Globe, £1950 ; Phoenix, £ISOO ; South British, £I7OO ; Northern, £1000; Britannia, £ISOO. Insurance on buildings and stock damaged Victoria, £IOOO ; London and Lancashire, £IOOO ; South British, £ISOO ; Transatlantic, £SOO ; Phreuix, £SOO ; Standard, £IOOO.