BLAZE AT TIMARU.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2108, 6 February 1908, Page 2

BLAZE AT TI MARU.

LARUE WAREHOUSE DESTROYED. “dynamite and cartridge EXPLOSIONS. A CLEAN SWEEP. LARGEST FIRE SINCE 1808. P rebs A ssoc i a tion. TIMARU. Feb. 5. The biggest fire in Timuru since 1808 broke out at 5.40 this afternoon in Llio town retail house of the Farmers’ Co-operative Association, a large brick -building facing Best wick-street and iSfrathallen-stroot. When first scon the fire had a hold in the linoleum and carpet room, on the first iloor, and spread with great rapidity into the drapery department adjoining. It was apparent that the fire had a great hold in a short space of time as tho fioor was crammed with drapery and siu’li-liko iniiainmablo material.

In a very short time both the town and tho railway brigades liad 12 leads of hose going, blit it was soon seen that the large building its valuable contents wero doomed. Tho fire burnt fiercely for two hours, and practically only the bare walls were left, standing at 8 n.m. It was a magnificent sight when •the fire was at its height, and the explosions of cartridges and dynamite in the building created repeated panics among the dense crowds of people looking on. Fortunately tho building stands siightlv apart from the Royal Hotel and Itoid and Gray’s warehouse, and as the weather was calm tho brigades had no difficulty in saving the adjoining premises, tliero being a splendid supply of water. - The books of tho Farmers Cooperative Company were saved, and algo a few lots of stock, such as saddlery, groceries, etc., but, practically speaking, a clean sweep was Tho loss is estimated at £70,000. to £BO,OOO. There is an insurance of £45,500 on the stock and -fittings. Tho offices interested are the Royal Alliance, N.Z., Phoenix, Royal Exchange, National, Farmers Cooperative, Norwich. Union, Stan-daru, Northern Assurance. North British, Queensland, South British.