Destructive Fire.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 127, 9 May 1884, Page 2

Destructive Fire.

[Per Press Association.] Wellington, May 9. St. John’s Presbyterian Church and Schoolroom, Willis Street, was totally destroyed by fire this morning about six o’clock. The fire broke out in the school-room, which had not been open since Tuesday night. The flames soon got the complete mastery, the water supply being deficient. The fire brigade had been turned out an hour before to a fire in a brick-yard in Tory Street. A high wind was blowing, and the flames spread from the school-room to the church and could not be checked. The organ-books, music, carpets, and everything moveable were got out. The church was insured in the South British for £3,000. The library, records, harmonium in the school-room, &c., were all destroyed. The fire spread to the private residence of Spinks, the Te Aro Hotel, and Jamison’s grocery store, in addition to which several other buildings in Willis Street were partially destroyed. On the north side of the Church a private residence and Laig’s two-storey workshop were completely gutted, and at one time it seemed likely the fire would sweep the whole street. The roofs of several houses at a considerable distance from the church were on fife. The Wellington Dorcas Society lose their sewing-machines and other property ia the school-room. The fire at the Scotch Church is believed to bo a clear case of incendiarism. The insurances are on the school-room, £5OO in the Northern office, and the church £3OOO in the Northern office. The re-insurances are as follows :—£looo in the South British, and £5OO in the London Liverpool and Globe. Several buildings in the neighbourhood of the church were on fire at various times, and considerable damage has been done to the stock by water. The first alarm this morning was occasioned by a quantity of wood being found alight in Norbury’s brick-yard.