Great Fire at Wellington.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1062, 1 May 1882, Page 2

Great Fire at Wellington.

DESTRUCTION OF CHEW'S BUILDINGS.

'Abridged from the Times.)

Shortly after 10 o'olok on Saturday night, an alarm of fire was Riven in Willis streot. Smoke was seen issuing irom th front of Ijwan & Co.'s auction mart—thi central promises in what are I(pown as Chew's Buildings and a glare seen through the glass window over the doorway betokened danger.. An employee of Mr Staples, the bootmaker, gave the alarm to Mr Kuoh, of tho firm of Kuoh and Martin, pork butchers, who occupied the next promises, aud who were busy with theirusual Saturday night's business; and Mr Kuch at once took steps to save their stock. Meanwhile, the door of the auction mart had been burst open, and an effort made to save such of the goods as were nearest to hand. The fire at that time was of small proportions, and might j have been easily extinguished had water |

been instantly obtainable, The fire, as it was spread rapidly, The upper porlioju of the building on ono side was occupied ; by MrEller and family, consisting of himsolf, wife, and threechildronfoiie of whom is, we understand, an adopted orphan, child) and Mr Kramer, the mother of Mrs Eller. Tho three children were asleep, and so dense was the smoke and so rapid tho spread of tho flames, that beyond snatching the sleeping little ones from their bed and rushing down the stairs with them nothing more was possible. The entire furniture and effects of this family, were destroyed, and, as they had nothing insured, they are left m a deplorable plight. Water was uot got : on to the' building for nearly half-an-hour, but the supply when secured was a grand one, and was sent rushing with a forco which fairly beat the: flames down and kept the devastation confined to the three premises mentioned, namely, Messrs Uwan and Co, 's, Messrs Euch and Martin's, and the empty restaurant, Next to the last mentioned is Mr Alexander's tobacconist shop and saloon, and the contents were hurriedly removed by the Salvage Corps, but the building remained untouched by the'flames. Eminent among good service was that rendered by a party of man-of-war's men, under the command of Lieut, Knight, who put ofHrom H.M.S, Miranda- with a force engine, arid with remarkable celerity got a hose in play with a good stream of water pumped from the harbor.: The cause of the fire is at present unknown. . INSURANCES, ■■ . Chew's Building'was insured for 12700 in the South British, .who are re-insured as follows:—Northern, Colonial, £1000; Scottish Imperial,, JBIOO.. latter is re-insured with the United for £250; The Colonial and Union have £BOO eaoh on Dwan's stock.