FIRE IN WANSBECK-STREET.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 990, 21 June 1879, Page 2

FIRE IN WANSBECK-STREET.

At about half-past one o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the shop occupied by Mr. M'Sweeney, bootmaker, Wansbeclcstreet, directly opposite the scene of the late fire, and two doors from the North Otago Times office, and resulted in the destruction of that and the adjoining shop, occupied by some Chinese. The alarm was first given by Mi - . Grenfell, and within a short time a small number of energetic workers were on the spot. At that time the fire was confined to the bootmaker's shop, and the flames were burstiug through the roof. It was feared that some one was sleeping on the premises, and the doors and windows were broken open, but the smoke and flames were so dense as to render it impossible for a search to be made. As no cries were heard to come from inside the building, it was concluded that the fears entertained that some one was in the building were groundless. In a very short time the other shop was on fire, and as it was impossible to extinguish the flames, the crowd directed their efforts chiefly to the saving of the shop of Messrs. Hodge and Jones, and our contemporary's office. In this they were greatly favored by the wind blowing strongly from the south, and driving tlie flames in the opposite direction, while the steady fall of rain kept everything damp, and provided a plentiful supply of water in the gutters. Efforts were made to save the stock in the Chinamen's premises, but the fire burned so fiercely that the task had to be abandoned. A number of buckets having been obtained, a copious supply of water was thrown upon the walls of Messrs. Hodge and Jones' shop, and by this means, favored by the other circumstances named, the further spread jof the fire was prevented. Had the conditions been less favorable nothing could have saved Messrs. Hodge and J ones' shop and the North jOtago Times Office. Within an hour after the first alarm being given the buildings destroyed had been reduced to a heap of ashes, but, despite the heavy downpour of rain the fire continued to burn for some time afterwards. Amongst those who worked energetically at the fire Were several members of the Fire Brigade. The buildings destroyed were the property of Messrs. Shrimski and Moss, and were insured in the New Zealand Company for L 250. Mr. M'Sweeney's stockwas also insured in the New Zealand Company for Ll5O, but we believe that the Chinaman's stock was not insured.