GREAT FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9068, 7 February 1908, Page 5

GREAT FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

TREMENDOUS DOSS. m FROM £250,000 TO £500,000. v A THOUSAND PEOPLE OUT OF WORK. DESOLATION UNMATCHED IN CHRISTCHURCH HISTORY. Per Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. ' Probably the largest and most destructive fire that has yet occurred in Christchurch broke out late to-night, in one end of Strange and Co. ’s large block of buildings, situated at the corner of High and Lichfield streets, in the busiest part of the" city. The fire started in a large warehouse in Lichfield street, filled with carpets and linoleumsand other heavy furnishincr material, and in the space of a few minutes the whole building was a mass of flames, and nothing could be done to save it. “Meanwhile the fire had spread through to the building at the back, fronting on to High street, and in turn to Ashby, Bergh and Co. ’s ironmongery establishment. The White Hart Hotel, and other buildings in the vicinity were quickly in a blaze, and were rapidly destroyed witiQheir contents. ““Malcolm and da ’s' warehouse' in Lichfield street, adjoining Strange and Co.’s linoleum department, also caught alight and the fire spread right through the building. Marine fire proof walls saved Strange and Co.’s main building, but up to midnight the fire was still burning fiercely, and many “other buildings injjthe vicinity t were,[threatened. LATER. {The fire-"* broke out last night at 10 o’clock, flit began in the furniture department'of Strange & Co. 's ‘large drapery establishment at [the corner of High and Lichfield streets. Strange’s is a wedge of buildings fronting east and south and running westwards down Lichfield street and northward along High street. In Lichfield street are many wholesale warehouses and in High street adjoining are some of the important retail businesses in town. The got established its discovery and it soon began to spread. All the fire appliances were soon out and the brigades were taxed to their utmost aiblity, but it was soon found that the contract was too large. The fire ran with marvellous rapidity from Strange’s*three story brick building to Malcolm & Co.’s warehouse in Lichfield street, thence to the back portion of P. Hayman and Co. ’s, then to D. Benjamin and Co. ’s, and after ravaging these warehouses attacked the D.LC. This establishment runs right through from Cashel to Lichfield street and it was soon a mass of flame which, travelling with bewildering rapidity, seized Ashby, Berg’s & Co. ’s ironmongery, gutting it in short time.

Tilings were now looking very serious. All the water tanks in the vicinity had given out and the engines had to be taken to the Avon river. This delay was disastrous. The fire licked up Tribe’s drapery, Hulbert & Staymaker’s tailoring, Freeman’s tearooms, 'Williamson’s drug store, and Tucker’s jewellery, and gathering fierceness and force as it went to assault the whole White Hart Hotel. This fine building was only erected three years ago in brick and white stone, but a comparatively few minutes served to see it a ruin and Jgutted from floor to ceiling. Hallenstein’s clothing factory followed and the flames were only stayed here by the collapse of Hallenstein’s, which allowed the brigade to get at the walls of Beath & Co.’s drapery. Ths was saved and its salvation meant also that., of the A 1 Hotel at the corner of Cashel and Colombo streets.

Meanwhile the fire was getting in its work with horrible vigour, in centre of the block which is pierced by rights-of-way leading into the wholesale warehouses already mentioned. The fire worked like rays of cancer, only with lightning speed, tongues going out and licking up buildings in irregular order, but in the main confined to parts of the block indicated. Warden’s croner escaped so far as the front portion was concerned, but tne back was gutted. Main’s boot shop also went and J. Anglo’s special bicycle shop. By 2.30 the tire was conquered, but not before it had left a scene of desolation unmatched in the city history. The loss is tremendous and cannot be estimated yet. It is variously stated at from a quarter to half a million. In the course of the day the insurances will be available. These are said to be large. At least a thousand people will be out of work.