FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9053, 31 March 1908, Page 5

FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

TIMBER YARDS DESTROYED. (By Telegraph.—Special to Age.) WELLINGTON, March SO. I A Are to-night, at Courtenay Place, was witnessed by a Wairarapa Age k reporter, who was travelling on the train from Master ton. The earliest stages of the fire could be seen from the time of leaving Petone, and the flames looked a mere beacon burning on the Te Aro foreshore at the coramenceinent. Gradually, however, it was seen that a large fire had commenced, and much speculation ensued as to its I location. The city was scon brightfy flit up by the' ffames, and the passengers from the train trammed it en masse to the fire, which was correctly reported to be at the Stewart Timber Company's yards. At its height the fire presented a grand but awful spectacle, and the solid stacks of timber burnt with a furious roar, and the old wooden shops burnt like tinder. Myriads of. sparks were scattered high and wide by a strong northerly wind. The Courtenay Place triangle was densely thronged with spectators, who greatly hindered the work of the brigade. The latter worked heroically to stem the fiery tide, and it is to their credit that they saved a valuable new building right in the track of the fire on the corner of Taranatsi Street and Courtenay Place. In conversation with .Mr James Stevens, late of Carterton, and one of the chief shareholders in the Stewart Timber Company, the reporter learnt that between £B,OOO and £9,000 worth of architraves and made-up stock \jvas destroyed. Mr Stevens rendered great assistance to the firemen by directing them to suitable positions with branches. BUILDINGS DESTROYED. WELLINGTON, March 30. The fire swept into Courtenay Place and gutted a two-storey brick building owned by T. Young, containing on the ground-floor three shops. One of these was occupied by Kirkpatrick (grocer), one by Tester (hairdresser and tobacconist), the other empty. An empty wooden shop adjoining, also owned by T. Young, was destroyed, as also were premises occupied by Mrs Levy, a second-hand goods dealer, and Kane, confectioner. The top floor of Young's building was occupied by Nicholl, Stringer and Co., painters. No estimate of the damage can be uade at present, but it must prove to be considerable, perhaps about five thousand pounds. Young's brick building was insured for £2,800 in the Phoenix Office, and two-thirds of this amount was reinsured. The empty wooden shop, owned by Young, was insured for £2OO with the Phoenix Office. A risk of £250 was held by the Phoenix Office on the Puketapu Sawmill building, half being re-insured. The Phoenix had also a policy of £25 upon the tools in the mill. The main insurance of the contents was with the Royal Exchange Company, which had a policy of £1,500 upon the contents of the mill and £SOO upon the timber. Tester was insured for £200., He estimates his loss at £l5O more. Nicholl, Stringer and Co.'s stock of paints was insured for £6OO in the New Zealand Company's Office.