DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2467, 14 February 1881, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

[By Telegraph.]

Dunedin, Feb. 13

A destructive fire occurred early this morning, which destroyed Hudson’s flour mill, bakery, and biscuit manufactory, behind the new Coffee Palace, on premises known as the old Masonic Hall. Nothing is as yet known as to the origin of the firs. The insurances on the building are £2OOO in the Standard ; on the Coffee Palace, £IOOO in the Victoria, £IOOO in the Standard, and £l5O in the New Zealand ; on the plant and stock, £SOO in the Colonial, £750 in the South British ; on the stock £SOO in the South British ; on machinery £750 in the New Zealand. The damage to the Coffee Palace building is estimated at £IOOO. Hudson’s loss is heavy, but he has made arrangements to carry on his business as usual. ADDITIONAL P ARTIC DLARS. The fire which completely gutted Mr Hudsons’ flour-mill and factory, and considerably damaged a portion of the new Coffee Palace, broke out at about 20 minutes to 2 on Sunday morning. The new Coffee Palace, which adjoins the City Hotel, is a very extensive and prominent building, and was built immediately in front of the old Masonic Hall. For some years this building has been occupied by Mr R. Hudson as a mill, a store, and a factory, and was so used at the time of the fire. The general opinion is that the fire originated in the bakehouse. The alarm was raised by the stableman at the City Hotel. At the time the fire broke out there were four persons in the Coffee Palace —viz., Mr S. S. Hawkins (the manager), Mrs Hawkins, and two female servants (Isabella Menzies and Elizabeth Ross). A boy slept in a room adjoining the factory, but fully 100 feet from where the fire started. Mr and Mrs Hawkins occupied a room on the first floor of the Coffee Palace, overlooking Dr Hocken’s dwellinghouse, and the servants were in a room on the next flat, immediately above Mr and Mrs Hawkins’ rooms. Mr Hawkins was roused by the alarm given b} r the iirebell, and on Mrs Hawkins opening the door a volume of smoke entered the room. The first thing done was to arouse the servants, and this was accomplished by means of the electric bell from Mr Hawkins’ room. At this time some gentlemen pushed open the bedroom door,led Mr and Mrs Hawkins through the back, over the right-of-way leading to Hudson’s factory, from which they descended by a ladder into Dr Hocken’s garden. Mrs Hawkins called to the servants, who appeared at their room window, and begged of them to be collected and keep the door shut. In a short time the Brigade rescued both with a fire-escape. The roof of the Coffee Palace caught, fire and was greatly damaged before the flames were checked by the water. By about 3 o’clock the lire was checked, and by 4 all danger was over. Five lodges of Freemasons met in the lodge room, above the factory, besides the Royal Arch Chapter and two Grand Lodges.. The regalia and furniture of the lodges,including a harmonium and an organ, are estimated to be worth £BOO, and the insurance on them is about£soo. The Grand Lodge records and charter are in the office of the secretary, and are safe. The documents of the Arch Chapter are also safe.