The chief engineer, second engineer, second officer, and second and third stewards of the Gairloch passed Shearer's shop, coming from New Plymouth, 10 aiinuces before the alarm of fire was given, but they saw no sign of fire, although they wero withiu 20 feet of the shop. They wero singing as they went along. At olg time the danger of the fl'imos igniting tho buildings on tho opposite side of the road was so great that ih* iutnatcs packed up their things in order to ho ready to clear out.
Shearer's building, which was owned by Mr. A. J. Wiße, of Urenui, was insured in the South British for £150 ; and Shearer's stock for £300 in the Victoria, the policy being only taken out on tho previous Wed nesday.
The insurances on tho buildings burnt down are supposed to bo as under :—: —

Mr. Spurdlo was uninsured, and conse quently iB a heavy loser ; Mr. J. Elliot owned (he building, which wns uninsured also. Mr. To-Ansltd, who owned the next building, had it and the etock insured for £350 — £300 in the New Zealand office and £50 in the South British office.
