FIRE AT GISBORNE.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 135, 18 May 1897, Page 2

FIRE AT GISBORNE.

IIKAVV LOSSES. A iiKi- broke out en Sunday morning .it .") o'clock in a block of stone buildings in Gkulstone Road, occupied by Williuiii Pellic, draper, Williams and Kettle merchants, the Hank of New South Wales, and W. 1). Lysnar, barrister. Mr l>ods, of (lie hank, gave tbe alarm ; be was slecpirg in a room at 11)3 back ( f the Hank, and was awakened by lb; rear ot the lire. Both Peltie and Williams and Kettle held very large sticks—larger, in fact, than they have ever had —and will lusc considerably over their iusuianccs.

The tank's strongroom fortuuately escaped damage, and all the looks, papeis, and valuables were recovered practically uninjured. Williams and Kettle's and Lysuat's strongrooms, however, stem to have suffi red by the tire, a large portion of their contents, valuable documents, etc., being charted or smoked Iu \\ illiains and Kettle's were stored large quantities of spirits by Williams and Kettle, the Farmers' Co-operative Association, and Mathcwson, ;nd the burning of thc : e caused a very line pyrotechnic display. Williams and Kctt'e had also a good stock of cartridges and sportmen's gunpowder, which, as it exploded, sounded like a fusilade of musketry. 'the Gisborne Fire Btigade turned out very promptly and seen had a big stream of water playing on the (lames ; but the tire had such a hold when discovered that it was impossible to make any salvage within the walls ot the burning luildinLT.

Fireman James Thompson slipped when fixing the hydrant, and broke a small bone in his leg. The building was owned 1 y Edward Murphy, sheep farmer, Te Ami. It is difficult to say how the fire originated. Mr Pettie, when locking up his premises last night, satisfied himself that all was safe, and cannot believe that the fire started in his place, but thinks it must have come from the cellar underneath, the forepart of which is the bond. His shop was full of new stock, which he values at .€(3000, C2OOO above the insurances.

Williams and Kettle had a very large stock ofpioduce and general merchandise. The afternoon previous they stored ItiO sacks of oats.

The full list of insurances are as fol lows :

Building, £SOOO in the Royal. Pettie's stock, £ISOO in the Liverpool, London, and Globe ; £ISOO in the Royal, including £7O on the fittings ; £IOOO in the Commercial Union. Williams and Kettle : Stock in the main store—Northern £750, Royal £SOO, New Zealand £IOOO, Standard £SOO, Norwich Union £SOO, National £IOOO (of which £750 is for stock and £'2so fittings) ; stuck iu bond belonging to the Poverty Bay Farmers' Co-operative Association, £'2oo in the National ; stock in h'Aid belonging to G. Mathewson, wine and spirit merchant, £2OO in the National.

Bank of New South Wales : £IOO in the National on the stock, stationery, and fittings. Lysnar : £125 in the North German on the furniture and law books (most of which were saved). Total insurances, £11,875.