DISASTROUS FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2813, 12 February 1908, Page 33

DISASTROUS FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

HEAVY LOSS OF PROPERTY AND STOCK. COMBINED BRIGADES BAFFLED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, February 7. The most destructive fire in the annals of Canterbury, if not, indeed, New Zealand, was heralded by the discovery of an outbreak on the ground floor of the extreme westerly portion of Messrs Strange and Co. '6 warehouse in Lichfield stieet a few minutes past 10 on Thursday night. The building was one which the firm purchased some two years ago from Messrs Ross and Glendining- for £13,000, this being at the time entirely separate from Sltrange's block, and being subsequently •connected with it by two entrances only, which were protected by iron dcors, the use of which proved the ealvation of the major portion of the immense range of premises, extending round Liohfield street, and for the greater portion of High 6treet.

The build ; ng in which the fire was discovered to have its seat comprised three floors. The two upper flats were devoted to the display of furniture, the ground floor being used as a mantle showroom. It was impossible on Thursday night, or during the early hours of Friday morning, to hazard a guess at the origin of the conflagration, but it appears that Mr Free, the firm's watchman, went round the building after closing down for the day to ascertain the safety of everything. Thursday afternoon being the weekly half-holi-day, the sales staffs were not in the building, no packing was going on, .and only the dressmakers, milliners, arid other "factory " hands were engaged. These were all let out by Mr Free, and the premises, apparently secure, were subsequently locked up for the night. "When the fire- was discovered it had obtained a tremendous hold, and probably had originated somewhere in the rear of the building, because at the time the outbreak was first noticed, through ■angry tongues of flame darting through the windows on to Liohfield street, the whole floor was irrevocably involved in ruin.

An alarm waa given, and as some 60 members of the city and suburban brigades were assembled for a social evening at the Lichfield Street Station, the portentous new 6 quickly gained, currency among those immediately concerned. The wholo of the plant was got on to the scene with but little delay, under the direction of Superintendent Smith. Steamers were stationed at the Cathedral square tank, at the Cafe de Paris deep well, at the White Hart, and Mason-Struthers's tanks, and at the river. Upon the tanks at Cathedral square and opposite the White Hart becoming exhausted, the engines drawing supplies from these were transferred to the river. AN UNEQUAL CONTEST. Fanned by a brisk easterly wind, the flames literally poured out of Strange and Co. '6 windows in roaring b. lows. Malcolm and Co.'s warehouse, separated by an alley on the western 6ide, was hungrily seized upon, and began burning fiercely from the upper storey. Some cases in the backyard of Benjamin and Oo.'s became ignited, to be followed almost instantly by a determined attack upon the enginehouse of Wardell and Co. in an adjoining lane. In the meantime the fire fiend had spread his tentacles with appalling 1 rapidity and remorselessness, and attacked the White Hart Hotel and A'shby, B-prgh, and Co.'s buildings (facing on High street) in the rear. Confronted with overwhelming masses of fire on all sides, and frequently in mest inaccessible positions, the efforts of the combined brigades 10 stem the awful torrent of devastation availed nothing.By 10.30 Malcolm and Co.'s premises were doomed, P. Hayman and Co.'s and Benjamin and Co.'s warehouses were menaced, and the fire .had obtained a strong hold of- the rear of Wardell and Co.'s four-storey building. The floors of Malcolm's warphouee collapsed with a series of resounding crashes, and burning brands were projected high into the bloodred heavens in all directions. Apprehending the danger to human life attendant upon the possible falling of " live " wires connected with the tramway and corporation's electrical systems, the sections in High street immediately fronting the block involved were promptly cut out by tho authorities. Tramway traffic along High street consequently was completely suspended for the time being. By 20 minutes to 11 the affected part of Strange and Co.'s was merely a skeleton building. The floors and many of the inside walls had disappeared, and on the ground lay heaps and heaps of blazing debris. During the day a large number of cases of softgoods had been taken into Malcolm's, preparatory to their being opened out. Theeo were eaten up in less time than it takes to tell. I At 10.45 the flames bad burst through fiom the top floor of Malcolm's into th*? ! second floor, where the silk goods were J stored. The?e were simply mopped up, and bursts of fire came from the windows. Some anxiety was caused by Mr Malcolm and his assistants entering the warehouse in search of the firm's books, but they emerged safely with the contents of .the safe. A few minutes later the flames were into the bottom storey, and thf whole building was blazing from basement to ceiling. By this time the brigade had abaa-

doned Strange's, and were devoting all the attention they could spare to Malcolm's, as the flames ivere working along the back to Hayman's and D. Benjamin and Co 's. At Strange'e the flagpole, w hich had hitherto proudly survived, blazed from butt to tip, and finally plunged into the flaming abyss. Almost simultaneously there was a. warning cry from the spectators, " Look out," and a portion of the wail of Malcolm's warehouse thundpred down into the right-of-way. A fireman, encumbered with the hose, staggered back in the nick of time. ESCAPE OF HAYMAN'S WAREHOUSE. "Will Hayman's go?" was the question which the crowd in Lichfield street was asking shortly after 11 o'clock. Ai far as one could judge, the place seemed to be doomed, y-et the flames, sparks, and redhot iron went over it and round it, but never ignited it. The brigade were fighting in front of Ma-lc&lm's, but little or no headway was being made. Some of the firemen had taken up a position along a right-of-way running between Hayman's and D. Benjamin and Co.'s, with the object of defending both places from the advancing fire. Their efforts seemed to be successful for a time, but finally it was observed that the roof of Benjamin's warehouse was on fire. A head of hose was at once turned that way, but here again the fire, having once more secured a hold, tenaciously retained it. The flames burst through the three top windows in rho right-of-way. and simply rushed aloner the third storey. At the back, Wardell's could be seen blazing furiously, and there and then it was recognised that Benjamin's was doomed. With a resounding roar, tho flames burst out of the top windows in Lichfield street, and at 11.30 the top was a setbing mass of flame. This advance was also signalised by a burst of bluish fiame from Wardell's, where a petroleum tank or some oil had caught, fire and exploded. At the rear of Benjamin's the Bank of Australasia stood serenely, apparently undamaged up to this stage. WATER RUNS OUT. There was a rush into the D.I.C. at 11.45, when it was noticed that the skylight bad ignited. A length of hose was dragged in, and the fight in this place, stored with fancy^gooda, crockery, etc.. began. The lead of water speedily turned on this outbreak checked it temporarily, but the heat from Benjamin and Co.'s premises soon set the outbreak going again. Just at this juncture the railway engine, stationed at« the corner of Lichfield and Colombo streets, pumped the sump dry, and no water was available to suppress these flames for fully 20 minutes. Volunteers procured buckets from the warehouse and drew a supply from the side channel, but it was almost useless to try to cope with the fire in this manner. Shortly after midnisrht it was apparent that Benjamin's premises were doomed, as the fire after eruttinw the top storey, gradually forced its wav to the second floor, where it soon resolved this portion into a roaring furnace. The roof eompletelv collapsed shortly after midnight, and the floor between the second and third storeys fell in almost immediately. THE D.1.0. DOOMED. I In Lichfield street, between midnight and j 1 o'clock, the fire increased in intensity with terrific rapidity. It was about midnight that it became apparent that the D.I.C. building was doomed. The boards on top of Sargood and Co.'s building on the opposite side of the street caught fire from the sparks and blazed up fiercely, and for a time it looked as if that building also would be indanger, but a troop of willing workers hastened up to the scene j of the outbreak, and for lack of better apparatus stamped the fire out with their feet, and with 6uch crude appliances as they could gather in the emergency. The roof of Mason, Struthers, and Co.'s building, at the corner of Lichfield and Colombo streets, also became ignited by the flyina; sparks, and that outbreak likewise was quickly subdued by a number of men. Meanwhile the D.I.C. building was blazing furiously, and immense billows of smoke and flame rolled upwards and poured across the street. The attempts made to save this building were quite futile, and practically all that the brigade could do with the limited quantity of water was to stand in little groups and watch the building burn. The long ladder had been brought up against the, front of the building when the flames first leapt over from Benjamin's warehouse, ond several men ascended, hauling up a hose, but the water made no impression, and the flames burst out j from all parts at o.nce. A band of men, under "the direction of Mr Hallenstein, general manager of the D.I.C, had meanwhile been doing good bucket work inside, and several of these stated that a reasonable quantity of pumped water could have saved the building. As it was, the water failed, and the building went. The front face bulged ominoualy, and a great gap appeared at the top between the front and I | the side walls, and for a time it looked as if the whole front cf the buildim? would fall outward on to t.he street. Warning cries were raised, and the immense crowd of spectators assembled in front of the burning building quickly scampered up and down the street to positions of greater [ safety. The warping, however, did not continue to an extent sufficient to throw the front wall out of equilibrium, and the expected fall did not take place. At an earlier stage of the fire, when the flames were ap reaching the D.I.C. from Benjamin and Co.'s building, a cry was raised that j a water tank or* boiler situated in one of the burning buildings between the two faces of fire was likely to burst owing to the intense heat, and, sure enough, some few minutes later a loud muffled report wa^ heard, which caused the multitude to flee in terror, followed by prolonged hisfe.ng of the escaping steam. At about twenty minutes to 1 water was again obtained through one branch from an engine I pumping from the tank near the corner of Colomlo and Lichfield streets, which had proviouslv been emptier!, but which was beinsr refilled hy the railway engine pumping from the river. The D.I.C. was then absolutely doomed, ' end was shortly afterwards left to its faio. ANOTHER BUILDING ATTACKED. At 1 a m. the brick building at the lear of Gill Brothers' establishment was enveloped in flarneo, and Messrs ReynokV and Kin-vift's promises were thn centre of 1 interest. The fire was, t>racticali7 speak- ' ing, all round the buildme:, but it did not seem to gain a hold. The crowd got very excited about the salvagers in this tall building, and bawl«d itself horee in an endeavour, to make them understand that they

were in danger. They were, however, so deeply engrossed in the saving of the goods that they declined to recognise that they were in any danger whatever. Finally, a policeman scaled the telescopic ladder, and sternly ordered every man in the building to come out. Thi6 was effective, and the building was soon clear. By a strange irony of Fate, the fire at the time refused to touch the structure. On the weet side of Gill Bros.' was situated a small building occupied by Mark Woodfield, and between that and the next building, Gott Bros., H. B. Sorensen, and other firms, a small right-of-way led through to the yard attached to Sorenscn's auction mart. FURTHER DEVASTATION. At 1.25 the flames began to show- out through the roof of Gill Brothers, and in a very short space of time they had worked clown to the upper storey of the building. In the meantime the fire at the rear of the building raged with greatly augmented ferocity. The right-of-way separating Gill Brothers from the three-storeyed building of the Wellington Woollen Company (Messrs Reynold and Kinvig) was a tempestuous funnel through which flames and smoke were rolling in great volumes. The flames in Gill Brothers' building licked up the combustible material as if it had been the driest of tinder, and at the rear they had crossed the lane and attacked the sheds behind the Woollen Company's building. At 1.30 the water temporarily failed, and the firomen who had been attacking- the fire in front of Gill's building were rendered powerless. After two ox throe minutes, when the water was again available, it came out of the end of the hydrant practically a mere trickle. The fire had gained consider able hold in the meantime, ond the futility of attempting to cope with it with the water available was -painfully evident. At 1.35 the building was completely doomed, the interior being- rapidly consumed. The efforts of the brigade were now con eentrated on the buildings surrounding Mr H. B. Sorenson's yard. The hose was brought from Sorenson's yard and turned on to Gill Brothers' warehouse, where the fire burnt fiercely in the jupper storey. The two heads now in operation at this point had the effect of checking the flamps somewhat, and it seemed as thonorh the outbreak was being got under control. The hricade then turned their attention to Kinvig and Reynolds's warehouse, and the excellent supply of water now available prevented the flames from crossing the right-of-way. Shortly after 2 o'clock a rumbling noise from the oa^Jward of the buildinof affected announced the falling of brick walls of the huildintrs in the rierht-of-wav between Messrs P. Havman and Ob. and the D.I.C. Tn this lane gas was burning fiercely. At Gill Brothers the firomen were gradually getting the flames under, and some crockery in larse barrels was salved. About 2.30 n.m. the fire in the western portion of Lichfiold street was practically •subdued. Rome shpds at the back of the Woollen Company's building were alight but were soon out of danger. The debris on the floor of the D.I.C was blazing brilliantly, but tho nnaioritv of the other huildjnars were only lit by fhe fitful p-lare of the rivjnsr splutters of the fire. The crowd slowly melted away. the centre of interest shifting to the Cashel street front of the area affected. IN HIGH AND CASHEL STREETS. Very soon after the alarm was given the fire, which appeared to have been burning for a long while before being discovered, began to work from Lichfield street through to the High street frontage of the block, commencing at Ashby, Bergh, and Co.'s, and extending to Walker's tobacconist shop and Parker's, in the White Hart block. The flames gradually grew in strength, fanned by the strong easterly wind which was blowing, and very soon Ashby. Bergh, and Co.'s was on fire. They came with irresistible force through the back of the shop, and speedily the whole of the ground floor was a mass of flame. At this time 't appeared as if there was no danger of the fire extending eastward into the drapery portion of Messrs Strange and Co., *ha brick walk preventing it. Still coming In from the back in Lichfield street the fire worked its way into the men's mercery establishment, formerly occupied by Slaymakex and Co. Meanwhile, the great body of fire in Lichfield street on the scene of the original outbreak was being driven by the wind through on to the back part of Freeman's, the White Hart, Tucker's, jewellers, and Williamson's, chemists. Whilst Ashby, Bergh. and Co.'s building was in a short time a perfect roaring furnace, being on fire from top to bottom, the windows of the upper and second storeys of the White Hart began to lifrht up ominously. Soon the fire showed all too plainly, the second storey rooms being all alight and fire bursting out of the front windows. Time allowed of all being got out safely, though none too soon, for in a short time after the first indications of fire the whole of the top portion of the White Hart was in flames from the first floor upwards. On the eastern side the fire steadily burned through tho back part of Freeman's, Williamson's, Tucker's, and Slaymaker's, with the result that all the block fronting High street was one mass of flames. As soon as it was seen that there was little hope oF saving this block, the AngloNew Zealand evele shop and Maine's boot shop (which formed part of the White Hart shop property) were broken open and the contents removed. Willing hands were also engaged in removing the stock from Slaymaker's, but this was a work of the greatest possible difficulty, as the burning window frames crashed through the glass verandahs, rendering approach dangerous. However, a considerable amount of stock was got out, and some .adventurous spirits got up on the first floor and pitched out boxes, etc. THE ADVANCING FLAMES. The fire meanwhile had prainod a great body in the back portion of the High street buildings, and very soon Freeman's wa3 one mass of flame. The shops of Messrs Tucker (jeweller) and Williamson (chemist) followed. A little after 12 o'clock, when the fight with Ihe fire was the most desporatc, the water at the High street tank gavo out. At this period the western side of the White Hart, towards Wardell's, broke out in a seei'-Mig mass of flame, and the fire also showed out from the shops in the White Hart block on the ground floor. The firemen having got v water' from the Cathedral tank, made a gallant attempt to extinguish the fire, in the top part of the White Hart by climbing up to the balcony by nieans of the fire-escape ladder,

taking the hose witn them. For a whiffc it 6eemed as though they would be abl« io check the fire and hold it there. Buft the great body of flames which had gofi through on the ground floor of the White Hart from the back made them beat a reluctant retreat, and they had to descend. The small shop of Tribe and Co., which! 'had hitherto, so far as could be seen, escaped scatheless, chough surrounded on all sides by burning buildings, was now added to the general conflagration, and speedily burst into a mass pf name. The sight just as this time was a mosfe wonderful one. All the whoje line of buildings covering - the long frontage of High street were one mass of leaping 1 , roaring flamea. Every now and thetr'~"»&ma from the back of the buildings the heavy 6ound of walls falling. The glass of the windows broke and fell in showers, crashing through the verandahs; and in Ashby, Bergh, and Co.'s quite a fusilade of cartridges and small explosions of powder kept going off. The fire, aided by the wind, continuedl to advance, and speedily the whole block was in flames from ground floor to parapet. The White Hart continued to burn furiously, and by 1 a.m. the state of affairs was that the buildings occupied by Freeman, Ashby, Bergh, and Co., Tribe and Co., Tucker (jeweller), Williamson (chemist), Slaymaker and Co., the White Hart Hotel, Maine (bootmaker), and the Anglo-Nes* Zealand Cycle Co. were practically de< stroyed. Although nothing but the bare shell oi the White Hart was left standing, rh< flames did not sweep the two-storey build* ing at the corner, in which the oreinises oi Messrs Walker (tobacconist) and J. H. Parker and Co. (drapers) are situated. This was probably due to the building being considerably lower than the White Hart,, the flames consequently not reaching lot* 1 enouarh for them to catch fire. Wardell'l building was not so lucky, the back por« tion of the premises,, where bacon-curinf is carried on, being considerably damage* by fire and water. From the front, how« ever, the buildings look as though, they have escaped unscathed. ' Another fortunate building was the Bank of Australasia, which, with the inferno raging at the back and side of it, was also spared. Not so the D.I.C, however, for very quickly ifc was a roaring. Taging Inferno, and the windows, the displays of which had boea so often admired by the public, were filled with a seething mass of flames, their con" tents of flimsy material being devoured in a few minutes. Presently the > roof fell in with a loud report,, and continuing on its way. the' conflagration swept into Hatr lenstein's. The fall of blazing debris was accompanied by the crash x>f the huxe plate-glass windows " as they clattered on the pavement, and the . spectators swept baok like a receding wave as the heat became unbearable. In breathless suspense the crowd waited for the front of the building to fall iir, for it could be easily seen that this must be a matter of only a few minutes. Presently it was seen to tilt inward, and nexfc moment crashed into the flames with a deafening report. CHECKING THE FLAMES. Meanwhile the firemen, seeing that anr attempt to quell the flames on the east side of the right-of-way by Hallengiein's would be futile, were strenuously devoting their efforts to sav-a the block of buildings on the west side. Two ladders were placed in position — one against Clifford's and the other against Beath and Co.'s— and soon a torrent of water was being pored on to thoso premises, another hose also being played on the side wall. The fire, raging furiously a+ the back of the White Hart, menaced the rear of the Bank of Australasia. A small shed at the rear of the bank was ignited, and there seemed to be a vei-y present danger to the bank. However, after a long ami arduous struggle, the flames were beaten, and the bank saved. At 1.25 a.m. the New Zealand Clothins? Factory's premises in Cashel street collapsed with a resounding crash, and for tha first time appeared a gleam of hope that the progress of tb? fire might be stayed; The building was of wood and one storey hisrh, the volume of flame on that account being proportionately restricted. Fire had been communicated to Beath and CjO.'i extensive building from _ the Clothins: Fartorv ; that portion occupied by Mr Clifford, photographer, beinpr nearest, suffered most. The roof and window sashes were alight for a considerable time, and the flames had penetrated into the interior for some distance, creating much havoc, but Gradually the opportunity thus presented for holding the conflagration in check on the northern side was seen to be taken advan-t-\s?o of by the determined fire-fighters, and by degrees the most pressing aspects of dantrer -were overcome. The heavons were robbed of their anery tinge of crimson, <? narks and burninc fragments t-f debris belched upwards with Ipss frequency, and clouds of stParn betokened that at last, after a. contest of more than three hours' duration, the. brigades were obtaining the unper hand. Enthusiastic cheer upon ohopr rent the ajr when it appeared certain that Beath's block had been saved, for it was rpalised by all that once the fire pvogre^epd beyond that point nothing could possible save the Al Hotel and the range of buildinsrs in Colombo street, betwppn Cashel and Lichfield streets. Had this occurred thore was a strong probability of the fire 10-adinc across Colombo sti-ppt -md afctncVincr Ballantvne's. Congreve'-s. Reeee's, and the City Buffet on thp opposite side. Tho Bojik of Australasia and WardellV buildincs loomed out of the murky desolai tip" triumphant and coirmarativelv intact, The five was w»ll under control about 3 o'elrrk, ami all th<» bui'dinqrs to the west side of the D.I.C. riyrht-of-wav were wpII out of danger, though the fire in Wardell's freezing chamber aid storeroom was burnincr somewhat fiercely wi+hin. .All inflammable material had. however. dis« appeared, and the chances of it" ca"«'' i e» p ßother outbreak were very small. Lichfipld stroe.f pr-e«<~nte<l a mo^t rle-o'at° appearance, the only portion of the hand=omo structure 1 ; that survived the fire being tho eigh> brick walls. THE PREMISES DESTROYED. The premises destroyed were se follow: — High street — Ashby, Bergh, and Co (ironmongers). Trice and Co. (mercers), BTul« bert and Co. (taiiors), Freeman*. Ltd. (caterers), Wiliamson (chemiet), Tuckel (jewellers). White Hart Hotel, Aaglo-Netf Zealand Cycle Company, J. Maine (bo©t< maker). Cashel street— D.l.C, Now Zea-r land Clothing Factory. Lichfield street— i Strange and Co., Malcolm and Co. (waxei housemen), D. Benjamin and Co. (ware* housemen), Gill Bros, (woollen merchants!..

T^ank right-of-way— Wardell Bros, (bacon Store). GENERAL. Shortly after 1.30 a.m. a report was current in the city that St. Michael's Church, was on fire. Station-Sergeant Johnston went out to investigate, and discovered that burning embers had set fire to the historic belfry which stands some little distance away from the main edifice. [Willing hands and some buckets of water availed to extinguish the outbreak before any serious damage was done. Hayman and Co.'s premises in Lichfield mtreet had a miraculous escape fiom demolition. Buildings on three sides were completely destroyed, and beyond the burning of the window sashes thi6 particular warehouse suffered little damage. The want of an organised salvage corps •uch as the Fire Police which used to exist •ome time ago wa6 very noticeable. There were several- places from which the goods might have been remoted in safety long before the "fire reached the inner portions of the shops in High street. Nobody Hked to take the responsibility of breaking open the doors, and a ?;ood deal of valu*ble property was lost in consequence of the- delay. Had there been anyone to tajce charge and order the removal much ir.ight have been saved. The utter inadequacy of the water .system for -the subduing of a great fire was most limply proved. The police were present at the fire in Strong force, and rendered invaluable aid >y keeping the crowds back. Inspector Gillie 6 had every available man on duty, tmd, with Sub-inspector Dwver. he personally directed the men. In Lichfield street* particularly good order wa.s maintained, though on one occasion the firemen had to turn "a hose on the crowd to get it to move bick. The police ucrc^assisted in their duties l\v a number of Volunteers in uniform. "The worst fire in all my experience." said Superintendent Smith, in the course of a conversation with a Prc^g reporter. " We would have had the fire beaten at the D.I.C, but the water pave out. I have always been afraid that there would be a. blaze in this block, and I piedicted. in one of my reports to the council, that there would be trouble here." A cry was raised that a fireman had been overcome in one of the buildings, and gqme of his mates dashed in through the fl&ines and smoke to rescue him. They found Fireman Mills lying on one of the floors of Hallenstein's building*, unconscious. He was dragged into Ca-hel street arid immediately conveyed to the Empire Hotel, where he was medicalh attended. His recovery was reported in about half ia hour. THE INSURANCES. CHRISTCHUROH. February 7. Experts say that the total lose must approximate £500.000, and figures regarding the insurance losses confirm this statement. Nearly £200,000 is already dead loss to the local insurance companies, and this 'amount will be largely swelled by insur.,r*™- v>pld by Lloyd's. In addition to the •>_„ „u..i.od. 'which takes into consideration fcuildings already destroyed, there will be 9ieavy claims from companies sustaining partial damage. The aggregate insurances as far as ascertained are: — Lloyd's (London) on D.1.C... £34.000 Royal 30,000 Alliance ~ ... 23.000 Yorksihre : .. 13.250 Royal Exchange 12.560 Isew Zealand ... 10,200 {London and Lancashire ... 10,000 jiverpool and London and Globe ...' .. 9.500 Northern 9.000 Victoria 8.000 South British 7.000 North British ... . 7,000 Sun . ..... 7.000 Commercial Union ... . 7,000 Guardian ... 5.500 Imperial .... . 5 000 State Office ... .. 4.700 Standard of New Zealand . 4,500 Atlas 4,500 National ... . 4.200 Norwich Union .. . 3.500 North Queensland . ... 3.500 Australian Alliance 3,000 United 2 300 Phoenix 750 Total £229.460 The above sums are net losses after making deductions for reinsurances.In addition to the above-named sums. Lloyd's have risks totalling about £50.000, one line alone (the D.1.C.) being responsible for £34.000. It is difficult to ascertain what insurances are held on the various losses on particular buildings, but some of the details are : — Malcolm and Sons.— £3oo in the United on the building : £11.800 on the stock. The building is roughly valued at £5000. The loss on the ttock js much in excess of the insurance. Freeman's Buildings.— £2ooo in the United. D.I.C. — Buildings and contents totalled £81,000, divided among; loeai office- to the extent of £55.000. The balance (£36.000) is held by Lloyd's. Ashby. Bergh. and Co. — On the -.lock : Phoenix*. £1000; National. £10G0 : North British. £5000; Royal. £2000: South British. £2000"; Victoria. £25C0 ; Commercial Union. £2000: Noiih Queen-land, £2500: State Oflue. £2000; total £20,000. Wardell's Bacon Faetorv. —On the building: Royal. £1750; Atlas. £1650. On the contents: £840 in the New Zealand. £260 in the Guardian. £240 m the National, and £500 in the State Office. Hallenstein's.— On • Hie *tock: South British £750: New Zealand. £1250 Standard, £500; Royal. £500: Ftate. £2260. H. B. Sorenseii's. — On the building. £130 : on the stock, £20. - J It is estimated that the loss on Strange and Co.'s promises will be from £16.000 to £20,000 on the stock, and £7000 on the bvilding. „ i Clifford's Studio Beath md Co.. Gott Bros., and Reynolds and Kinvip- nil more ->r less damaged are al=o insured, hut the vim-> are not avjila'>lo. Of coursp it is impo-)Mble foi insurance institutions to make up an absolutely i1"-"tahlci1"-"tahlc Matomenf of the amount of cov.-r Vl<l b\ tl.f ii iividi-il l"i>.'= affoood. tut! >#Ie follow nm fiuuic- m. \ If taken .i\iulv leli.ilm — A--hle\, V, i^l). .!'•! Co (Limit ol 1 — - and mi.i, ut- £29 0 0 •.I.C.— Biukhns; iui4 roiHents £81.5.00.

I Robert Malcolm and Co.^-Building .md 1 contents, £14.800. 1 Strange and Co (Limited) — Building, £5000.

White Hait Hotel— Builing a>'id contents, £15,700. White Hart Warehouse. £1000. F. W. Tucker— Stock. £3000. Wardell Bros and Co., £10,000. H. H. Clifford, £1750. P. Hayman and Co., £2000. D. Benjamin — Building, £3250 ; contents, £6500. Gill Bros— Building, £2250. W. A. Tribe and Co.— Building, £750; contents, £1450.

Hulbert, Slavmaker and Co. — Building, £2500; contents. £3100.

Freeman's (Limited)— Building. £7000; contents, £3000.

Beath and Co — Buildings and contents, £28.025.

Bank of Australasia., £10,000.

These are the main items, but there are other insurances that have not yet been adjured.

Therga- seems little doubt that the fire originated in the packing room of Strange and Co., in the right-of-way leading from Lichfield street to Cashel street, as early arrivals found this portion of the premises a seething furnace of flames, the fire not showing elsewhere. This department was closed, as usual, early in the afternoon, it being the weekly half-holiday. No employee has any idea how the fire originated.