Post by nzbc on Sept 25, 2016 23:23:05 GMT 12
Fiji 's GREAT FIRE.
ALL NATION'S »'. STREET. ] CLEAN SWEEP MADE. & SCENE OF CONFUSION. . [/BOM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , , SUVA,i February 11.':;%' One of the best known streets in Suva to. travellers is Camming Street, better known to the tourist as " All Nations Street. It is a street full of vivid memories of many peoples many customs, and many smells. So distinctive were the latter that the area has, been called All Smell Street" The street has been a ' worry to the Health Authorities for quite a long time, and was the centre of the native end Indian Java (or Fiji grog) shops. Yesterday Gumming Street was a seething and highly ' coloured centre of Oriental life, with its Chinese. Japanese, Indian, native and other shops. From dozens of doors coma the odours of Araby. Along the narrow paths wanned a cosmopolitan stream of men and women who came from the Seven Seas. To-day Gumming Street is no. more. Gone are the crowds, gone are the 60Q or 700 coloured people who filled the boarding houses, gone are the ancient relics of galvanised iron and wood which vielded handsome dividends to a few rich knight, about seven o'clock the fire beUtangfwithin a few moments thousands of people were on the scene. A fire had started in an Indian boarding-bouse m the riddle of the street. In ten minutes a roaring fiery furnace was sending up 'clouds 'of sparks which endangered the safety of the whole business section of the town. The native fire brigade, like the native police, were Gilbertian. They rushed down lengths of hose, only to find that the wrong nozzle had been brought along. Half a dozen officers gave contradictory orders. Government and municipal officers vied with each other in expressing opinions everyone, white men and black, women of all ages and colours, children who knew more than their fathers did,' swarmed hither and thither, in an unending and exciting " cackle."
Opportunity for Looting. Arriving on the scene, one was met by Streams cf very excited Chinese and Indians each carrying a trunk or other package, containing their worldly "wealth. From the doors of Indian tailors' shops, valuable sewing machines came hurtling like catapults. On the roadside amid the throng were increasing piles of store goods which bad a vicarious existence, and in almost all cases with no police or other protection* The natives were quick 'to seizo the opportunity and hundreds of pounds worth of clothing and groceries disappeared with magic-like alacrity. The "water pressure, -which was recently proved to be quite good, proved on trial, to be a miserable fiasco. In most cases the water could not be thrown higher than the verandahs. Up above a westerly ■wind carried a shower of glowing sparks, all over the town. On every roof could be . seen silhouetted the figures of native boys busy "with buckets of water, ready to kill any sparks that landed on the loot's 'Owing to the danger of live wires, the electric light had been cut off, and the town was illuminated only by the glare of the burning area. The hotels reverted to the old kerosene lamps, and did brisk business in lager, beer. Extent ol the Losses. Opposite the scene of this flaming in ferno and only separated by the narrow waters of Naboukulau creek, was the fine
big concrete building, the headquarters of Morris Hedst om, Ltd. The front of the colh'nade of this building was hung with hessiftii. which was kept wet, and un'£?doubtedly helped kto «ave "'the'; building. This large store runs parallel to the whole length of Cumming Street.' The efficacy of r its concrete walls, without doubt, saved the main business part of tho town, which included the establishments of Brown and Joske, W. Home and Co., Jang Hing Xoong Co., Honson, Ltd.. Brodziak, Ltd., Stmt Ogilvie. Ltd., Cleary and Co., Pier Hotel and others. So far as can be ascertained, the losses will run into between £40,000 and £50,000. The companies interested are Pacific, Now Zealand Union, Liverpool and London and > Globe, and others. The Royal Insurance C 0.,-'.,-' had refused any risks in Cumming Street. Out - of the whole street by a great effort : four or five -wooden buildings at the West End were saved, including Sun Tiy, Chinese baker, McGowan's Auction Mart, and Jacka's general store. The Governor came •oh the scene, and made personal enquiries as to the number of the homeless, and arranged on 'the spot with ,Mr.' Fell, • (Colonial Secretary), :to have temporary shelter provided for them. • The fire Was still burning this morning, but was easily kept under control and all danger of any extension is now over. -/,
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LX, ISSUE 18327, 17 FEBRUARY 1923
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19230217.2.115?query=Jang%20Hing%20Long
ALL NATION'S »'. STREET. ] CLEAN SWEEP MADE. & SCENE OF CONFUSION. . [/BOM OtTR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] , , SUVA,i February 11.':;%' One of the best known streets in Suva to. travellers is Camming Street, better known to the tourist as " All Nations Street. It is a street full of vivid memories of many peoples many customs, and many smells. So distinctive were the latter that the area has, been called All Smell Street" The street has been a ' worry to the Health Authorities for quite a long time, and was the centre of the native end Indian Java (or Fiji grog) shops. Yesterday Gumming Street was a seething and highly ' coloured centre of Oriental life, with its Chinese. Japanese, Indian, native and other shops. From dozens of doors coma the odours of Araby. Along the narrow paths wanned a cosmopolitan stream of men and women who came from the Seven Seas. To-day Gumming Street is no. more. Gone are the crowds, gone are the 60Q or 700 coloured people who filled the boarding houses, gone are the ancient relics of galvanised iron and wood which vielded handsome dividends to a few rich knight, about seven o'clock the fire beUtangfwithin a few moments thousands of people were on the scene. A fire had started in an Indian boarding-bouse m the riddle of the street. In ten minutes a roaring fiery furnace was sending up 'clouds 'of sparks which endangered the safety of the whole business section of the town. The native fire brigade, like the native police, were Gilbertian. They rushed down lengths of hose, only to find that the wrong nozzle had been brought along. Half a dozen officers gave contradictory orders. Government and municipal officers vied with each other in expressing opinions everyone, white men and black, women of all ages and colours, children who knew more than their fathers did,' swarmed hither and thither, in an unending and exciting " cackle."
Opportunity for Looting. Arriving on the scene, one was met by Streams cf very excited Chinese and Indians each carrying a trunk or other package, containing their worldly "wealth. From the doors of Indian tailors' shops, valuable sewing machines came hurtling like catapults. On the roadside amid the throng were increasing piles of store goods which bad a vicarious existence, and in almost all cases with no police or other protection* The natives were quick 'to seizo the opportunity and hundreds of pounds worth of clothing and groceries disappeared with magic-like alacrity. The "water pressure, -which was recently proved to be quite good, proved on trial, to be a miserable fiasco. In most cases the water could not be thrown higher than the verandahs. Up above a westerly ■wind carried a shower of glowing sparks, all over the town. On every roof could be . seen silhouetted the figures of native boys busy "with buckets of water, ready to kill any sparks that landed on the loot's 'Owing to the danger of live wires, the electric light had been cut off, and the town was illuminated only by the glare of the burning area. The hotels reverted to the old kerosene lamps, and did brisk business in lager, beer. Extent ol the Losses. Opposite the scene of this flaming in ferno and only separated by the narrow waters of Naboukulau creek, was the fine
big concrete building, the headquarters of Morris Hedst om, Ltd. The front of the colh'nade of this building was hung with hessiftii. which was kept wet, and un'£?doubtedly helped kto «ave "'the'; building. This large store runs parallel to the whole length of Cumming Street.' The efficacy of r its concrete walls, without doubt, saved the main business part of tho town, which included the establishments of Brown and Joske, W. Home and Co., Jang Hing Xoong Co., Honson, Ltd.. Brodziak, Ltd., Stmt Ogilvie. Ltd., Cleary and Co., Pier Hotel and others. So far as can be ascertained, the losses will run into between £40,000 and £50,000. The companies interested are Pacific, Now Zealand Union, Liverpool and London and > Globe, and others. The Royal Insurance C 0.,-'.,-' had refused any risks in Cumming Street. Out - of the whole street by a great effort : four or five -wooden buildings at the West End were saved, including Sun Tiy, Chinese baker, McGowan's Auction Mart, and Jacka's general store. The Governor came •oh the scene, and made personal enquiries as to the number of the homeless, and arranged on 'the spot with ,Mr.' Fell, • (Colonial Secretary), :to have temporary shelter provided for them. • The fire Was still burning this morning, but was easily kept under control and all danger of any extension is now over. -/,
NEW ZEALAND HERALD, VOLUME LX, ISSUE 18327, 17 FEBRUARY 1923
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19230217.2.115?query=Jang%20Hing%20Long