CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2790, 23 January 1878, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

This day.

Serious Fire in dirigtchurch. A serious fire occurred this morning

in a block of buildings bounded bjr Colombo and Caabel streets, being the centre of the businesi part of the city. It commenced in the back premises of J". Barrett, hairdresser, and quickly extended on both sides, north and south. It had obtained a strong hold before an alarm was sounded, apd before the fire brigade—which tnrned out smartly —had got properly to work. The •hops occupied by Parker, commission agent, Scrimshaw, furniture warehouse, on the south side were in flames ; also Roberts, watchmaker's shop, on the north, and the flames were making their way- through the "windows in" 1 a brick partition wall of the A-l Hotel, which was three stories high. Superintendent Harris being unfortunately out of town, the efforts of the fire brigade were not so well directed as usual, and after a time a scarcity of water was also experienced. (The brigade arrested the progress of the fire on the south side after it had partially damaged the shop of Phillips, clothier, next to Scrimshaw ; but while the brigade were endeavoring to save the Al Hotel, the fire communicated round near the hotel with the shops of Lane, butcher, Beatb, draper, Watt, draper, in Cashel street, and the brigade after all failed to sare the A 1 Hotel, which was completely destroyed, and had % hard fight to prevent the fire extending along Cashel street to High street. The fire raged for three hours. The following damages were done: —A 1 Hotel, contains about fifty rooms; Scrimshaw's, Parker's, Barrett's and Kobert's shops, totally destroyed; Phillips, shop and stock and. damaged back premises; Beath's drapery shop destroyed, stock in front shop' damaged ; stock of Pratt, draper, also damaged. No particular! as to the value of the damage, or the insurances yet obtainable. The origin of the fire is unknown.