DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 198, 1 August 1884, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

MR. MURCHIE’S PREMISES BURNED DOWN. A large fire, causing the destruction of the premises belonging to Mr. D. Murchie, at Makaraka, occurred early this morning. At about four o’clock Mr. G. Cook, who is employed by Mr. Murchie in the store, and whose bedroom is next to the room occupied as an office, was awakened by the roar of the flames, which were bursting forth from the office room, and had barely sufficient time to dress himself and escape through the window. He then roused up the other occupants of the building, by which time it was almost wholly enveloped in flames, so much so that it was of no use attempting to get them under. The fire appears to have been burning some considerable time before it was discovered by Mr. Cook, as there were in all only about twenty persons present, and it was absolutely impossible for them to get at the goods inside in order to save 1 them, and consequently everything was completely destroyed. The affair seems to be shrouded in mystery, as there is nothing whatever to show how the fire first started, unless, as is surmised it did, through the fire which had been kept alight in the office room up till eleven o’clock, and where it is supposed it originated. The firebell in town was lung by our everwatchful and energetic night watchman, much to the apparent disgust of those roused up from their warm beds by its alarming notes. We do not know whether Mr. Murchie estimates his loss at anything very considerable, but he appears to be well secured by his insurances, which arc as followsOn the stock : £.500 in the South British, £l,OOO in the Victoria, and £5OO in the Royal, and there is £550 on the buildings in an Auckland company.