DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT DUNEDIN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 6 December 1880, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT DUNEDIN.

(From the Qtago Daily Times.) I One of the most destructive fires that ha.s occurred in Dunedin for many years ? broke out shortly before 4 o'clock on Sunday morning in a large wooden building on the reclaimed land below the rail--1 way station, used as an engine and tram--1 car shed by Mr. David Proudfoot, the proprietor of the City and Suburban 3 Tramways. The building was also used 1 for other purposes, and in it was s.tored a : quantity of contractors' plant, the "property of Messrs. Proudfoot and M'Kay, * valued at Lsoo,and uninsured ; nearly all * the apparatus used in connection with the " electric lights which have bean exhibited ' on several occasions in this city, and between 3000 and 40.00 bushels <>t oats. It ' contained also 36 cars and seven valuable j. engines, besides duplicate wheels, fittings, &c. The origin of the lire is at the pre--7 sent time a mystery, but there is good 1 reason to believe that it was the work of an incendiary, whose object was to injure Mr. Proudfoot by interrupting the traffic on the tram-lines. The building was a very old one, and for many years did duty the First Church. It was pur- ' chased by Mr. Proudfoot and removed to ! the reclaimed land, where it was re--1 erected for the purpose whioh it was 1 serving when destroyed. It was re-built with four doors facing the wharf, and on the night ,of the fire the three doors ' nearest the city were closed, the fourth ' and farthest to windward, being open, car standing half in and half out. In this car the fire is supposed to have started, although, so far -as we can ascertain, no stranger had Veen seen about the premises. There were two mes, in the shed at the time of the outbreak—one a watchman, and the other an engine-cleaner. We are assured that there was no fire on the premises. The man -vyho was engaged as cleaner used a torch lamp, and when he and the other man went into one of the cars to have their supper, they used a hurricane lamp, like those used by contractors to warn travellers against street obstructions. One of the men soon became conscious of the fact that there was smoke in the building, and they immediately became alarmed j but in the space of a few seoonds the flames burst forth Qlo,se to the only open

door, and it was with the greatest difficulty that they made their escape through a window. One of them rushed up to town to give the alarm, while the other made an ineffectual attempt to save some of the cars. Some men belonging to vessels lying alongside the wharf were aroused by the glare and noise, but did not volunteer to assist in saving property. The fire-bell rang, and the Brigade turned out, but their services were of little avail, andin a short space of time some L2Q,000 worth of property had been destroyed. As we* before remarked, there is little doubt but that the place was deliberately set fire to. There was scarcely any inflammable matter- on the premises. Some oil which used to be stored there had been months ago, a:nd there was no kerosene in the place. The only lights were !Q the lamp used by the. fitter 3

and one in the car in the two men were taking'their supper: Two 6ars wort got out of the building, but they were considerably damaged. Everything else wag -completely destroyed, as the Brigate could do nothing to check the .progress of tho fire. Mr. Proudfoot will lose' from LBOOO to LIO,OOO, as well as the loss of traffic which, at this period of the year, is great notwithstanding every; exertion is to bo made to replace the stock destroyed. The building and its contents were worth about L23,0Q0. As proving that Mr. Proudfoot must be a very heavy loser, we may mention the fact that the . Union Insm-auca Company some months ago refused a direct line of L 4000,' because the office considered the rate inadequate to the risk and also refused to grant what'is Known as a " blanket policy." The same Company, we welieve, also refused a reinsurance.

The fire may well be regarded as a public calamity, for it will interfere.greatly with the convenience of tho publjc,wiH make travelling more expensive, and has the effect of throwing over 100 men out of employment. We believe that everything that is possible will bo done to lessen tho effect the loss will have unon the public. Mr. Proubfoot yesterday sent cablegrams, to America and Norway for more cars and there happen to be now on the waysome cars and some 'busses that wore* being imported to run on the side streets and to be let for excursions. Some carst will also be made in Dunedin; so that, before very long the tramways will be> fairly equipped for ordinary traffic, though doubtless during the holidays the proprie-tor-will have to put up with a loss of traffic as the result of the fire on Sunday morning.

The, police are busily engaged making • inquiries into the origin of the fire, and it. is to be hoped that their efforts will prove successful, and that conviction will follow upon detection. We hear that the Insurance Companies interested intend to offer a large reward for such information as will lead to the ccxnvictioa of tho incendiary. (by telegraph.) Dunedin, December Gv. The following is the corrected list; of the insurances on Mr. Proudfoot'B pro- : perty : —Stock and plant—Northern L 2500 ; New Zealand, L2OOO ; Victoria' LISOO ; Transatlantic, LIOOO ; National,' L 100 0; Hamburg-Magdeburg, LIOOO- - British, LIOOO ; Norwich Union, LloooAustralian Alliance, L 300; Standard, LSOQ. Building—Northern, L 500; Transatlantic, L 50 0; Hamburg, LSOO. Oats—Northern, L3OO. An inquest on the fire is to be held.