INCIPIENT FIRE IN QUEEN-STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1377, 9 July 1874, Page 3

INCIPIENT FIRE IN QUEEN-STREET.

:Aw outbreak of fire, which was fortunately and extinguished in time to prevent jits doing more than a f*w shillings worth of S damage, occurred this afternoon in the house 1 occupied by Mr H A. Jones, barber, at the Jcprner of W.est Queen-street. The proprietor iof the1 -premises was* engaged cooking'at the: stove on the ground floor about eleven o'clock. This stove is placed against the lining of the weather-boarding on the side adjoining Messrs* Hamilton. Bros, premises. Between the lining and the chimney there is a wall one -brick thick. While Mr Jones was thus, engaged., he noticed a strong smell ot burning, the i origin, of "which he was at a loss to dfscover. The smell continuing he thought something was wrong,; and running over to Mr Asher, informed him of. the circumstance. Mr A sher promptly examined the premises. First he noticed smoke issuing from the space between Jones', shop and Hamiltoh'a. Seeing the position of the fireplace Mr. Asher at once concluded that the seat of the burning was in the lining behind the bricks. This turned. out to be the case. It was found on examination that the mortar .between some of the bricks had crumbled away and the fire had got to the woodwork. It was only smouldering when discovered/ A baby engine was sent for from the New Zealand Insurance Company and Mr Asher with this assistance soon averted the threatened'blaze. Great credit is due to Mr Asher for the promptness of his measures.