FIRES IM DUNEDIN

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10152, 23 December 1910, Page 5

FIRES IM DUNEDIN

BIG BLOCK OF BUILDINGS DESTROYED,

MUCH DAMAGE DON*,'.

Bu Teleijraph — Vress Association, DUNEDIN, Last Night. A disastrous lire broke out shortly before 9 o'clock this evening, in the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society's big block of buildings in Crawford Street, and resulted in the structure being completely gutted. The fire obtained an extraordinary hold before any warning was given, Brigades to subdue it. Xhe builamg was composed of four brick walls, extending from Crawford Street through to Vogel Street, and having a frontage of about 70 yards to the upper portion, where the fire started. It comprised the Brydone Hall and skating rink. Half the lower floor was occupied by Messrs John Chambers and Son, machinery agents, who were carrying a stock of machinery, oil, men's stores, etc., to the extent of abouu £15,000, which is a total loss. The other half was occupied by Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co., grain, seed, and wool ' merchants, who carried about £SOOO worth of stock in grain and seed. This is a total loss. A portion (about £2OOO worth) was their own stock, the remainder belonging to clients. The Otago A. and P. Society, Bray Bros., the National Electric and Engineering Company, John" Chambers, Harraway's, ClarK and McAra's offices were in front of the building. The insurances on the building arc:—South British, £3,100; New Zealand, £1000; Victoria, £1000; Standard,- £500; North British, £1000; Queensland, £4OO. On the stock:—Waters and Ritchie: London and Lancashire £IOOO, Alliance £IOOO, Queensland £SOO, Liverpool, London and Globe £IOOO. There is some doubt with regard to the lastmentioned item. | J. Chambers and Son's stock was! insured in the Commercial Union for j £G2OO. Graham, of the South Dunedin l Brigade, sustained a broken ankle,' a broken nose, and internal injuries. A civilian was also hurt, but the nature of his injuries are not known < at present. .. \

ANOTHER OUTBREAK.

B)i Tdearavh — Press Association. DUNEDIN, Last Night.

Another lire broke out about 11.15 in Taine's Chemical Stores in Crawford Street some three hundred yards south of the big fire in the A. and P. buildings. The fire started in the back room in the top storey, and was suppressed without much difficulty, the damage done being comparatively small. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is not supposed that it was caused by sparks, from the big fire, as the wind was blowing in the contrary. direction. The insurances are uriaseertainable to-night.