AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4561, 17 August 1883, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

This day.

Arrived: Handa Isle from New York, and Buttermere, 93 days, from London.

Large FireThere was a fire at Belcher's stores, Upper Queen street, at 1 o'clock this morning. The fire was discorered by Mr Lumsden, an operator in the Te'egraph Office; on his way homeward Le saw a glare at the store, and ran to the spot; he saw no one about, but noticed one half of the front door, next the Upper Queen street corner, wide open. The interior of the building was one mass of flame. Mr Belcher had leased the store to Bobertson and Maxwell for 21 yeats

on the Ist Jane. The loss falls most heavily upon the latter gentlemen. Mr Belcher had the buildings insured for £200 in the National Office, and Robertson and Maxwell had them also insured for £600 in the same Company, owing to their having a lease. They had also a policy for £500 on the stock, and £500 on the plant. There was about £200 worth of maize in the stores at the time of the fire, besides a quantity of country produce ; they had recently purchased a gas engine at a cost of £300, and had also a chaffcutter, and oat and maize crushing machines, and sawing plant for firewood. A dray was destroyed and two horses in the stables, valued at £50, were burnt to death; the efforts made to release them being fruitless. Donnelly, the occupier of an adjoining house was insured for £175, in the South British Office; the house was badly charred, and the furniture and goods were greatly knocked about by removal. Mrs Bible's residence adjoining, insured in the New Zealand Office for £200, has sustained very considerable damage, and the furniture was also greatly damaged by removal. Mrs Bible is an aged widow and was so greatly affected :by the fire that she had to be removed to Mr Belcher's house in Upper Queen street, where she was kindly attended to. Robertson and Maxwell's loss will be a total one, nothing having been saved. The buildings and contents were entirely destroyed. The building was a very extensive one, of corrugated iron, and the loss and damage to property adjacent, is estimated at £2000. Mr Eobertson says he locked up the steres himself, at 7 o'clock last night, and left everything perfectly secure. He was wholly unable to throw uny light upon the origin of the fire.

During the passage of the ship Butter - mere from London an apprentice named John Pierce fell overboard and was drowned.

The Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution urging Government to press the Eire and Marine Insurance Bill through the House, the general principles of the Bill being improved by the Auckland Chamber.