FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9602, 23 September 1909, Page 5

FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 22. About half-past two this morning a fire broke out in the upper portion of a four storey brick building in Victoria Street, near the Opera Hous\ and facing the Town Hall. A string southerly as blowing, and the flames spread rapidly. Despite a fine pressure of water the Brigade found that working the hose from the ground was quite ineffective The fire escape was brough into requisition, and three men were sent up it. These held the hose and poured a great quantity of water on to the seat of the fire. Other members of the Brigade attacked the flames from the rear of the building, and in about three-quarters of an hour the fire was under control. The flames were confined to the second and tup storey.

The building was owned by J. M. Richardson, and occupied by the Pal - mer Engineering Co., Van Staveren Bros, (fancy goods merchants) H. G. Anderson and Co (indent agents), Hooper and Harrison (agents), and Mayers' shirt factory. The plant and stock in the latter establishment were destroyed. The stock in the other parts of the building was damaged hy water.

The building was insured in the Phoenix for £5,000 and Norwich Onion 22,000. Th 3 following are the insurances on the stocks: - Palmer Engineering Co., £4,000 in the Stand ard; Van Staveren Bros., £2,000 in the Yorkshire, £1,500 in the Royal Exchange, £1,500 in the Atlas; Mayers' shirt factory, £4OO in the New Zealand Insurance Co.