FIRE IN DEVON STREET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 32, 7 February 1902, Page 2

FIRE IN DEVON STREET.

A SERIOUS CQNFLAGATION NARROWLY AVEKTKD, 300 D WORK BY THE FIRE BRIGADE. At eight o'cleck last night the Central Fire Station rang out an alarm of fire, and the outbreak was discovered in the premises occupied by the London Dentil Institutii, Dresden Piano Company, <). P. Cottier, photographer, G. BarrBrowD, and J. C. Davies, land and commission agents. The Brigade were on the scene in a remarkably short space of time, hut within a few minutes the flames were busting through the toof in a Urge body. Leads of hose were got to work from the Devonstreet frontage, and from the back, but for some little time it appeared doubtful if the buildings could be saved, and THE Ff.AMES THREATENED THE COFFEE PALAOE, in which there was a large number of boarders. Willing hands were soon at work removing furniture and boarders' belongings from the rooms adjoining the fire, in preparation for the worst. Meantime the Dresden Company's stock was removed from the downstairs portion of the burning buildings, and stored in the Theatre Koyal and otaer places. Little or no damage was consequently suffered, except such as might be caused in removal. By this time the Fire Brigade had got at the seat of the fire, and succeeded in suppressing the flames. THB SCENE UPSTAIRS in Cottier's and the Dental rooms was one of utter ruin, the central portion being gutted and the other rooms damaged by fljme, smoke and the water which h«d been poured in in a large volume from ihe several leads of hose playing on the buildings. By 930 ALL DANGER WAS OVER and some idea could be formed »f the extent of the fire. The whole of Mr, Oot'ie.'s ups'airs rooms, the studio, diik loom, and sore room, etc., were practical y , utted. The London Dental workroom was also burnt out, and the roof between that and Cottier's, between which there was only a thin partition, was charred. Fortunately the Coffee Palace escaped with only trifliDg damage, a window being cracked and a little water having got into one or two rooms. This was rather better than was generally expected, as Cottier's rooms, right alongside, were at onetime a seething mass of flame, and Captain Bellringer and the men of the Fire Brigade undpr him are to be complimented upon the way they got the fire under.

At first some fears were expressed as to the safety of Mr. H. R. Oattley's tailor's shop, on the east side of the Dental rooms, but the flames did not get in, and only a little water found its way through the walls. Owing to its being a holiday and several of the people interested being away; it was impossible to get the amount of insurances last night. The only amount our representative could hear of wss .£IOO, held by the New Zealand Insurance Company on M>. Cottier's stock. - He estimates his loss at .£3OO above this. The London Dental was covered, we understand, but in what office was not acertainable last night. No idea could be formed of the damage to Barr-Brown's and Davies' offices, which were mainly affected by water.

The premises occupied by the Dresden Company and Mr Oottier(up stairs) are owned by Mr A. Shuttleworth, and the Dental Institute rooms by Mr G. Tisch. Insurances on the latter were not available last night, but the South British Office had £SOO on Mr Shuttleworth's. NOTEB. It was rxtremely fortumte that th" night was calm, as had there been a wind b'owing it is almost certain the entire block would have been swept. No cause can, so far, be assigned for tha outbreak, which it is difficult to locate, both Cottier's and (he Dental workroom seeming to be alight at the some time,

While the fire was at its worst the Coffee Palace was the scene of great excitement, people hurrying hither and fhither with various article* of cloth'ng and furniture, destined to be placed in greater safety. It is worthy of mention that though articles were carritd out into the street at various points, nothing was reported missing, although! there was very soon a qrowd of from 2000 to 3QQO people around. The removal of the Dresden stosk was effected in remarkably quick time and very thoroughly. The loss on the stock should nut amount to much. Practically nothing was saved from Cottier'a or the Dental rooms, I A well-known local resident, interested in one of the officers affected by the fire, anived in time to rescue a pair of bathing draws, whioh he carried about in triumph during the rest of the time, quite oblivious of the smiles of friauda who observed the incident.