CHRISTCHURCH IN FLAMES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 41, 7 February 1908, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH IN FLAMES.

UIMKST AMJ MOST UKSTRCCTIVE (■ lit i:. ST.UO'S IX STIIANCK AN'l) CO.K BLOCKS JJUfiNJii) DOWN. I'IUH STILL JiAOI.V: Fl IiIiCLI.Y. l'cr i'ress Association. ('hrisU-lntrch. Midniylil. Probably the mid most d" ili'iU'iivn lire Hint hai yi |. occurred in (.'liristcliiircli broke on I laic lu-ui-jliL in (ino cm I nf Strange and Co.'s Mm-!, (it building. situated iit tlic mnirr of I'i-li mul Licliliehl slreels. in ||„. busiest |iiii-L nf I lie city. Tile lire started in a lisry,' warehouse in LiohlieM-sl rect lilliil willi carpets and linulcum and oilier heavy furnishing material. and in tlic spaic of a few iiiiuul the whole Iniildinii w;>n ;i iiiii-i nt ' iiam- v anil n.itliin« cinilil be done Ui save il. Meanwhile the lire had *j>r<-ail throu;.rh to the buildiu;: at the lia-!; m to ana in turn In A-diliy, IJergli a lid CVs ironmonger'-, e-talili-h----ni.nt.

The While Hart Hotel and other buildings in the vicinity were quickly in a blaze, and were rapidly destroyed with their contents. Malcolm ami Co.'s warehouse in Lich-licid-slrcel. adjoining Strange and Co.'s linoleum department, also caught alight, and the lire spread right through Ilia building. -Marine lire-proof walls saved Strange and Co.'s main building, but up to midnight the lire was still binning fiercely, and many oilier buildings in the viciniiy nere threatened.