DESTRUCTION OF A GROCERY STORE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2272, 29 June 1880, Page 2

DESTRUCTION OF A GROCERY STORE.

The grocery store of James Martin Shepherd, at the corner of Main South Road and North street, was totally destroyed by lire, at three o’clock this morning. Constable Thorcau was the first to observe the flames, and ho immediately gave the alarm. A detachment of police under Inspector Pender, together with a number of civilians speedily collected, but having no apparatus they could do but little, pending the arrival of the Fire Brigade. Owing, probably, to the fact that the morning was cold, wet, and pitch-dark, the brigadiers failed to respond to the summons of their cracked bell with their wonted alacrity, and when they reached the scene, the fire was at its height, and the building, with its contents, resembled a furnace. Not only was the Brigade late in assembling but their movements, when they did arrive, displayed a sad absence of organisation. The engine was taken to the rear of the Timaru Mechanics’ Institute where there are two large tanks, but some delay occurred in adjusting the hose, which at first was reversed. In the meantime Mr M. Jonas, of Jonas, Hart, and Wildie brought a portable cxtincteur into full play, and it is partly due to the efforts of his unique little engine that a valuable block of buildings was not consumed. When water was laid on the lire bad gained such an ascendency, that all that could be done was to prevent the conflagration from spreading. The tanks were speedily emptied and the firemen directed their engine across the road to Hallam’s baths where an ample supply of water was obtained. The jets were played on the adjacent two storied building occupied by Mr Smith, seedsman, and Messrs Wood and Smith, drapers, and the walls of this being of brick, the exertions of the fireman, and a number of assistants who mounted the roof with buckets, were successful in preventing the lire from spreading. The gutting of the premises, which contained a valuable and extensive stock of general merchandise was accompanied by the dislodgmcnt of a numerous colony of rats, who escaped from the flames only to fall a prey to a number of dogs that gathered with the crowd. Mr Shepherd’s dwelling is in North street, just above the premises, and the origin of the fire cannot be accounted for. The building which, was of wood, was insured in the London and Lancashire Office for £3OO. The stock, which is estimated to have been worth at the time between £I4OO and £ISOO, was insured in the Union Office for £9OO, but £2OO had been reinsured in the New Zealand Office. Mr Shepherd, therefore, in addition to the damage temporarily done to bis trade connection, suffers a loss of about £SOO over and above his insurance.