A GREAT FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1921, Page 5

A GREAT FIRE.

BIG BLAZE IN SYDNEY. DESTRUCTION OF STORES. HEAVY LOSS INVOLVED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrigtt. ■Sydney, Dec. 13. The Pastoral Finance Association’s monster stores on the north side of the harbor, heavily stocked with wool and produce, have been aflame since early morning, and are doomed to be a total loss. The damage will run into many thousands. Received Dec. 13, 5.5 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 13. The fire at the'Pastoral Finance Association’s stores was one of the biggest, most spectacular, and destructive in Sydney’s history. The stores are situated at Kiribille Point, and comprised six storeys and a basement, with a floor Space of between four and five acres fronting the harbor. Luckily the building was practically detached, excepting at the rear, where it abuts on a street, in which is situat ed Admiralty House, the residence of the Governor-General when in Sydney, but which he is not at present occupying. Admiralty House is separated from the stores by vacant land, and it was threatened, but the efforts of the firemen and naval men from the warships saved it.

The fire was discovered by employees arriving to start work. The flames then had a good hold, and the building had apparently been Ablaze for some time. From the outset it was doomed, the fire being fed by great quantities of tallow, frozen meat and other inflammable produce, besides 32,000 bales of wool, mostly new season’s.

The fire spread with the greatest rapidity, and in a couple of hours was raging from end to end of the building. Fire brigades and fire floats mustered in full force, being assisted by large numbers of bluejackets from the warships and naval yard, but all they could do was to centre their efforts oa preventing the spread to Admiralty House and the street at the back. In the latter the residents made a hurried exit, and removed their furniture. Some of the houses were damaged, but the flames were prevented from spreading across the street. Business people were flocking to the city for the day's work, and soon immense crowds at all the vantage places watched the destruction progress, till the walls collapsed with a thunderous sound. The pjint and ferry services were temporarily stopped. In the freezing works attached to the stores a quantity of ammonia tubes were stored, and fearing an explosion these were removed at great risk by a party of naval men. It was a remarkable spectacle from the city side of the harbor. Hundreds of windows collapsed and the city was filled with pungent smoke from the burning wool. The fire is still (burning. The cause is unknown.

The bulk of the contents of the building belonged to the association’s clients, who are heavy losers, though it is understood the losses are well covered by insurance. There is no reliable estimate of the damage, but rough estimates of the wool alone are between £500,000, £600,000 and £Boo,ooo—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.

WEAK WATER SUPPLY. BLAZE FOR FOUR HOURS. VALUABLE WOOL LOST. Received Dec. 13, 10 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 13. At the fire the firemen were at first hampered by a weak water supply, which only sprinkled the flames, but when the fire floats and naval men °rrived vast quantities of salt water were played on the building. In view of the danger of the flames spreading to surrounding structures a demolition party was on hand with gun cotton to blow up the burning building. Although it was also used as a frozen meat store, it has now been ascertained that no meat was there at the time of the outbreak. It is anticipated that as the wool destroyed was of high grade, it will have a big bearing on future prices during the season. Nine fire engines, besides floats, fought the flames, necessitating sending relief parties of firemen from suburban stations. The fire, which is still smouldering, raged for four hours. EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. ESTIMATED AT A MILLION. Received Dec. 13, 10.5 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 13. It is estimated the damage by the fire will amount to £1,000,000.