A BIG FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 19 December 1913, Page 5

A BIG FIRE.

GREATEST IN SYDNEY FOR YEARS.

CANADA BUILDING DESTROYED

(Received December 18, 10.10 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 18.

One of the biggest city fires for veat's past destroyed tho Canada Buildings, a huge seven story structure in George street occupied by Williams Bros, as a motor agency. The brigade's splendid efforts succeeded largely in restraining the fire to one building, though a number oi adjoining business premises and the branch of the Bank of New South Wales suffered considerably by fire and water, and' Toppling walls of the main building. The caretaker and his wife and four children, who were living on the top floor, had a narrow escape. The fire is still burning, though well in hand.

The damage is very large, but has not yet been estimated.

FURTHER DETAILS

IAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £IOO,OOO

(Received December 18, 11.50 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 18. The fire has been got under. A rough estimate of the damage is fully £IOO,OOO. The firms affected in the main buildings are:—Universal Films Company, Anchor Nail Proprietary, Eckersley and Sons (soda-water fountain makers), . Wybrow Company (shoe manufacturers), and a number of smaller businesses.

Large quantities of rubber and other inflammable material made the fire spread fiercely. -v ■ . The rapid collapse of the walls disorganised the electric telephone service badly.

The caretaker's family escaped, partially clad, by means of the lift through tliei'roaring flames.

A NARROW ESCAPE

COLLAPSE OF A WALL

(Received ""Last Night, 8.15 o'clock.) SYDNEY, December 18. A wall of the Canada. Building fell this afternoon on the Bank of New South Wales, which is , next door. The banking room was badly damaged and filled with debris. • Fortunately there was nobody on the premises at the time.-