FIRE Iff PRINCES STREET, DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 4 July 1872, Page 5

FIRE Iff PRINCES STREET, DUNEDIN.

At fifty-five minutes past three o'clock this morning Constable Fitzp.itrick^ who was on duty in Princes-street, had hh attention arrested when passing Farley's buildings by tbe noise of falling crockery ware. On turning round he discovered smoke issuing from the shop windows of the brick premises next to the Glasgow Pie Souse and occupied by Messrs M'Leod and Mivtheson. He at once raised the alarm, and as quickly as possible conveyed intelligence of the fire to the Tower watchman, by whom the smoke had not been observed, OAving to the mist. Before the bell rang, a few persons had assembled in front of the burning building, but it was plain nothing could be done, even in the way of removing goods, as there was a strong body of fire in the lower storey, while from the rear the flames had already burst through the windows there. Very few minutes elapsed after the bell rang before the Fire Brigade had two streams of -water playing on the fire, one pouring through the front windows, and the other playing at the back. There was an excellent pressure, we should say about 1641b5, but the hose was unable to stand it, and in Princ6S street the length burst at a moment when the flames appeared to be strongest. The easing of the pressure and tbe coupling on of another length was but the work of a couple of moments, and the streams were kept playing till the fire was completely subdued, which was accomplished in lesß than half an hour from the alarm being raised. This is the first brick building which has taken fire since the introduction of water into the City, and the result showed that in like circumstances, and with an equally good pressure, the Brigade can easily confine the fire within the walls of the building in which it commenced. This feeling of security was shown by the proprietors of the Glasgow Pie House, who did not remove a single article from the premises, though at one time the danger to their biiilding was very imminent. On the occasion of the last fire we remarked upon the disrepair of some of the hose ; but no notice appears to have been taken of the matter by the Corporation, though the Brigade months ago applied for some new lengths. Perhaps when the hose now in stock is wholly unserviceable, the Corporation -will think of getting new. As to the origin of the fire there can be no conjecture. The shop was closed as usual last evening at half-past six o'clock, by the assistant storeman, Mr Kirk, who says he left in all right, with a small fire burning in the office crate. That the fire oriainatpd near the office, which was at the rear of the building, admits of no question. There the heat of the fire was, as the present appearance of the building shows. Near the office stood six cases of kerosene, one of which had been opened the afternoon preTious for testing purposes, but, strange to i say, the contents did not ignite. The flames I appear to have caught the straircase which | led from the side of the office to the show rooms up stairs, and made a clean sweep of that story, 'which even, presents a worse appearance than the shop, in which the contents of the shelving furnished food for the flames, because most of the goods placed there were thickly wrapped in paper. The stock on the premises proper was completely destroyed, not a single I article being saved. The strong streams of water poured into the building were sufficient to bring down whole shelves ; leaving the floors covered with broken glassware. That which escaped the water is so damaged by the action of tho fire, as to be valueless ; indeed all the glassware crumbles to pieces on being touched. The rear wall of the building is greatly damaged by the action of the fire ; and will require to be pulled down. At the rear of the building are some sheds, which are well filled with goods, but these were untouched by either fire or water. The building was the property of Mr G. H. Campbell, who also owns the stock, Messrs M'Leod and Matheson having lately leased the retail department ; while Mr Campbell carried on the wholesale business under the same roof. The building was insured for LIOOO, the Northern holding a policy for LSOO, and the New Zealand Company one for LSOO. The stock is insured as follows : — New Zealand, L 2,500 ; Northern, LI, 500 ; Liverpool, London, and Globe, L 2.000; Victoria, LI, 000 ; total, LB.OOO. We hear that an enquiry is likely to take place jinto the origin of the fire. — Star, 2Sth.