FIRES AT WELLINGTON AND NAPIER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1391, 12 September 1885, Page 3

FIRES AT WELLINGTON AND NAPIER.

Wellington, Sept. 11

Shortly before six o’clock this morning a fire broke out in a building situated in Willis street, known as the Empire Building and owned by the Northern Land Loan and Building Company. The downstairs portion ot the building was occupied by J. Dempsey, tailor, Elliot and Co., bootmakers, and E, J. Hill, hatter, and the upstairs was sub-divided into offices, but most of them were nntenanted. It is supposed the- fire broke out in the back room attached to Dempsey’s shop, and at once spread through the whole building, and before the fire brigade succeeded in subduing the flames the building was thoroughly gutted. Dempsey’s stock was of course destroyed, and Elliot and Co,’b large stock has been seriously damaged by water, Hill succeeded in removing his stock with but little damage. The papers in the offices upstairs occupied by Quill and Koran, and J. Smith, were destroyed. The Empire Hotel, which adjoins that destroyed, had a very narrow escape, and at one time the pantry attached to the hotel was 03 fire. Dempsey is a heavy loser as he was not insured. The origin of the fire is surrounded in mystery, but*st is thought that Dempsey must have left a fire burning. '1 tie buildings were insured in the Colonial office for £2250 and re-insured as follows :—£2so in the Imperial, £SOO in the London and Lancashire, £BOO in the Standard, £2OO in the Australian Mercantile Union, and £SOO in tbs Phoenix. Elliot’s stock was insured for £SOO in the Manchester office, and £I2OO in the Colonial, the latter having re-in-eured to the full amount as follows ; United, £250; Hanseatic, £350; Victoria, 250 ; National £350. Napier, Sept. 11.

The residence of A. C. Lang, of the firm of Murray, Roberts and Co., Hastings, was totally destroyed by fire at 5 a.tn. to-day, the occupants barely escaping in their night clothes, The origin oi the fire is supposed to be doe to a detective chimney. Insured in Colonial office for LSOO, and furniture LIOO in North British. A house owned and occupied by John Sweeney at Pukikua was burned on Wednesday night. House and furniture was insured in Southtßritish for £SOO. Origin of fire unknown.