DISASTROUS FIRES IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2392, 30 August 1892, Page 4

DISASTROUS FIRES IN NEWFOUNDLAND.

An extensive and disastrous fire broke out in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on July Bth, in a house on Long street, and was only got under control the following evening. In its course it rendered 15,000 people homeless, and wiped out a number of streets. The Government House was not burned. A strong gale from the West prevailed at the time, and this drove the flames very rapidly across the town, sweeping everything before them. The fire stopped at Water street west at Browning’s. From this point west, once thickly studded with dwellings, there remained only a forest of chimneys. The insurance on the buildings destroyed and in stock will amount to 4,000,000d015. which sum will cover about half the loss, One man and six children perished. Among the prominent buildings now in ash eg are the Masonic Temple, Orange Hall, Homan Catholic Cathedal and Bishop’s Palace, St. Patrick’s Hall, English Cathedral, Athmum, the Kirk, new Methodist College, Commercial Bank, Union Bank, Atlantic Hotel, and Linesberg’s brewery. The Executive Committee assigned the drill shed,parade rink, Browning’s bakery, and Clouston’s factory as retreats, where the burned-out people procured food and shelter, and sheds were also erected in the park. A place called Cat’s Cove, seven miles from Brighs, Newfoundland, was burned on ths 9 th. Twenty-six houses caught fire from a wood set on fire by ashes on the railway. The fires in the forest swept with terrible speed and effect along the country, and villages in the path of the flames could not be saved. The condition of affairs was thus made terrible. Nowhere was there anything like order. Passing vessels anchored on tlfe coast and sent their crews on shore to aesjst the people, who were so thoroughly demoralised and exhausted that they could not help themsej vers, and the men of &t. John’s,who hadabaiidoned their own homes to the flames, were called upon to help their fellow islanders in the surrounding villages. Several persons have died since the °St. John’s fire in consequence of fright and exposure, and several have been sent to the Lunatic Asylum, their minds having become unbalanced owing to their losses.

Insurance agents held a meeting 011 July 12th and the reports showed that the losses covered by insurance placed in St. John’s agencies amount to 4,250,000 dollars ; the estimated total losses is about 16,000*000 dollars. General Ross was ordered from London to send a company of Royal Eng)netii's from Halifax to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to b)ow down walla found either dangerous or difficult to remove by ordinary means. The number of families burnt out is 1874, making 9000 homeless people.

ERGlili m AND FOREIGN MARKETS. LoimoM, August 26. The Titus Salt Company is winding up owing to the serious effect of tKe McKinley tariff. New Zealand 4 per cent, inscribed stock, 1044; 64 percent, ditto., 944New Zealand Jong-berried wheat, ex warehouse, is fiat at 63s 3d; off c.oa»t cargoes, 26s Gd. Canterbury frozen mutton, S|d per lb; New Zealand beef, forequarters, 2|d ; hindquarters, 4d. market active. New Zealand hemp is in good demand at a slight advance. Auckland, good quality, £22 per ton; Christchurch, good quality, £2l 10s, Kauri gum is also in good demand at prices slightly higher. Good hard scraped lots brought £8 ; three-quarter scraped, £4 10s; bright half scraped, £4lss.

South Australian wheat, ex warehouse, is weaker at 33s Gd; Victorian, ex warehouse, is flat at 335.