FIRE IN WELLES STREET WEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9617, 15 September 1894, Page 5

FIRE IN WELLES STREET WEST.

In yesterday's issue we announced that, as we were going to press, a fire was in progress in Sale-street. It seems that the lire broke out at half-past three in a twostoreyed grocery shop occupied by Mr. Thomas Hodson, and owned by Mr. Mackey, at the corner of Sale and Wellesley streets. The fire was first discovered by one of the children, Clara Hodson, a girl of fifteen, who, on awaking with the smoke, gave the alarm of fire to the rest of the family. Although there are two telephones a short distance off—one at the Freeman's Bay Police Station and another at Mr. Billingfcon's store, 200 yards distant no one on the spot seemed to know what to do, and the Albert-street Fire Brigade Station did not get informatian until a man ran from the fire to the station. In consequence the fire raged unchecked for twenty minutes before the Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps, under Capt. Field, got to the scene of action. In a short time, owing to the splendid water supply, and the steps taken to combat the flames front and rear, it was confined to the building in which it originated, and the fire extinguished. The origin of the fire is unknown. It started on the ground floor. Mr. Hodson closed the shop at 11 o'clock, and he and his wife sab in the sitting-room till 11.50, when they went to bed. They left a small fire in the sitting-room, and knew nothing more till their daughter Clara roused them. The family had a narrow escape, having to get out by a top window on to the verandah, from which the children were got down by Mr. James Regan, a compositor in the Herald Office, who was returning home from work, and one of the milkmen going his rounds. Mr. Hodson had his furniture and stock insured in the Imperial for £150, but his loss is estimated at £100 over that amount. Mr. Mackey's insurance on the building could nob be ascertained, buta« the building was gutted, the loss must be £300 at least. A detachment of police were on the scene to maintain order.