ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE FIRE SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM. Invercargill, May 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 50, 17 May 1884, Page 3

ANOTHER DESTRUCTIVE FIRE SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM. Invercargill, May 10.

Anothkr disastrous fire occurred this morning, when the premises known as the Leviathan Gift Depot, in Dee-street, occupied by Rodgers and Co., booksellers and fancy goods warehousemen, were destroyed. The building was of brick, and had on onoside the Imperial Hotel and on the other Ilayr's chemist shop, both of brick. The alarm was given shortly before 2 a.m. by the night watchman, who observed the glare in the studio of Nicholas and Douglas, photographers, who occupied the rear portion of the upper story. Within a comparatively short time some members of the new Volunteer Brigade, and some of the old one were at the scene of the conflagration ; but it was a matter of difficulty to get a good supply of water on to the place where the fire was. In half an hour from starting, the flames had made their way through the floor into Rodgers's warehouse below, from which the people had been carrying out goods until driven away by smoke, and the interior was speedily a mass ot flames. The stock was also removed from Hayr's chemist shop and the Imperial Hotel, both of which were for a time in great danger. The means taken, however, were successful in confining the fire to the building in which it originated, although the efforts made were to some extent neutralised by the want of a " rose " on the .suction of one of the engines, causing it to bring up the gravel, and so interfere with the pumps. The flames ; burst out very suddenly, and it is surmised that some of the chemicals in the photographic studio must have exploded. The j men are still working the pumps to drown I out the smouldering ruins. The rear wall and upper part of the front are alone standing. A good deal of Rodgcrs's and Hayrs's stock was removed, but from their perishable nature were greatly damaged. The following are the insurances :—: — | Messrs Rodgers and Co.'s buildings, Australian Mercantile, L5OO, L 25 0! re-insured ; Royal, L 1,500 ; North British, L 3,500 ; stock, Australian \ Mercantile, LI, OOO ; North British, LI, OOO ; Hamburg-Madgburg, LI, OOO ; Royal, LI ,000; London and Lancashire, L3OO ; Equitable, L 1,500, 500 : total, L 12,000. On Messrs Nicholas and Douglas's photographic gallery, L6OO in the Colonial oflice ; on the stock of J. D. Hayr, chemist, L3OO in Australian Mercantile Union, and L3OO in New Zealand on piano and plant ; on stock of F. W. Burrell, who had oflice in front of upper story > LlOO in the Colonial office.

Alleged Inoendiarism. Yesterday afternoon smoke was observed coming from under the side of the South Public School, and after some trouble a quantity of rubbish which had apparently been piled together and ignited, was pushed out before the woodwork caught. Incendiarism is suspected.

La er. The North British had only L 2,500 on Rodgers' stock, and the London and Lancashire had L5OO on the fittings in addition to the amount previously telegraphed.