GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2870, 4 December 1890, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN SYDNEY.

(liY 15L1SUTRIU TELKCIHAriI.—COi'VHUiIIT.) Svdsbv. December 2. A SKi'.iOl'-t lira began at Ciibbs, bright and Go's Wharf, JJarlmg Harbour. Their kerosene bond, containing thirty thousand cases, equal In a quarter of a million gallons of nil, caught fire, and was soon completely demolished. The burning oil spread all over the wharf, most of which was burned. Some largo piles of tiuibor ■ire on lire, but there is no dnusur of tho blaze spreading to adjoining property. The lire is litill burning, but is uiulor control. The daniago is estimated at £30,000. The amount of insurance is at present unknown. When the lire was at its height it presented a grand spectacle, lingo bodies of ilame and dun-e clouds of smoke rising in the air. December From tlie outset '.I was seeu that there was no chance of saving tho kerosene bond whole the tire originated and the efforts of the fire brigade were consequently directed to saving th.- adjoining property. The heat was so intense that lireuion had to erect a shield to work behind, but in spite of this protection several uf the irieu were burnt, about tho bauds and faces. Tile shed in which the kerosene was .stored was 150 ft by -JCift, The night was calm and the lflatnes mounted high in the air. brilliantly illuminating the whole of the eity. A number of vesseels lying at the wharf were taken out into the stream for safety. 71)0,000 feet of timber became ignited, but the brigade managed to save a large portion uf it. The oil continued Co burn iioreply thyoufjho'.'.t tjip nigl;t, bull tlia brnlad'as ooniinerl tin; flames to the building in which the outbreak occurred, and no further damage was done. Gibhs, Bright and Company's loss is now ostimated at tIiOUO. The. buildings »nd whares destroyed were fully covered by insurance, but it is not yet known whether tho kerosene was insured.