WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 47, 25 November 1867, Page 291

WELLINGTON.

The Wellington Independent of the 9th instant has the following Last night at about half-past nine /clock a fire broke out in a grocer’s shop, situated on the Te Aro Flat, close to the sea and a short distance below the pa. The shop was occupied by Mr Ryan, formerly the master of a small coasting vessel, but the business was carried on in tbe name of Michael Lennan. We could not positively ascertain how the fire originated, but it is- supposed it is owing to a kerosene lamp bursting. A man passing by saw the fire and gave the alarm, but by the time the water had been procured the fire had fairly caught and in a few minutes the whole building was one mass of flames* which blazed furiously, and fanned by the north-west wind sent showers of sparks on the roofs and walls of the houses on the opposite side of the street. As there was no chance of saving tlje building the efforts of those present were directed to prevent the destruction of other houses in the vicinity, and with this object in view buckets of water were dashed on the weatherboards, while wet blankets were spread on the roofs. The blazing building forluaately stood alone the nearest house—that belonging to Mr Archibald—being several yards distant. This was a most fortunate circumstance, as had the buildings been close together, with the strong breeze blowing, the destruction of property would have been very great. The flax on the swampy ground also caught fire, but was beaten out, while the fence round the house was pulled down. In less than haif-an-hour the fire had.burned down, and all further danger was averted. The members of the Wellington and Central Volunteer Fire Brigades exerted themselves actively, and when the engines came up a hose was put into requisition, and played on the burning mass. The building was insured in the Otago Insurance Company for £l5O. From the Morning Post, of the 12th, we. give an account of another fire. It says:—Yesterday afternoon the fire bells rang out the alarm of fire, and small volumes of smoke in the direction of the Cathedral showed the conflagration to be somewhere in the vicinity of Mulgrove-streefc. Thither rapidly proceeded the two Fire Brigades, and it was discovered that the fire was confined. to' the roof of one of Mrs Lockyerts houses. Owing to the strong N.W. wind blowing at the time, it was feared that much damage would be occasioned, but, the roof being pulled off, the flames were speedily quenched and all danger averted.

Mr Morton Quin, Lieutenant of the Wellington Fire Brigade, and Mr M‘Cleland, jun., met'with serious accidents yesterday afternoon when hurrying down to the scene of the fire. The former fell under the wheels of one of the engines which passed over his head and body, and the latter was precipitated from the engine to the ground, nearly opposite to Mr Warmoll’s establishment. Both of the unfortunate men were conveyed to the residence of Dr Grace, where their wounds were dressed, and up to a late hour in tbe evening were getting on well.