Fire in Albert Street.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2969, 20 October 1879, Page 3

Fire in Albert Street.

Shortly after twelve o'clock this mornin a serious fire broke out in the premises» Messrs Branstonand Forster, situated at t_s. southern extremity of tbe two-storied brick block iv Albert-street, known as Masefield's Buildings. A vigorous alarm wa3 rung out from the various fire bells, and in an incredibly short space of time the thoroughfare was thronged with excited spectators, whose numbers went on augmenting for fully an hour afterwards. The Fire Brigade made a prompt appearance upon the scene under Superintendent Hughes, while Captain Butler and his Salvage Corps followed closely upon their heels. At this sto''e the flames had fouud an entrance through the roof oyer the centre of Messrs Branston and Forster's workshop, and. were creeping along the ridge towards the other end of the block. Connections having been effected with tlie lire-plugs, two separate streams of wator were projected upon the blading timbers and incandescent slates, and a good pressure having been obtained the effect was almost immediately perceptible. In half-an-hour the fire was extinguished, though it was some considerable time before the glowing plaster and slates admitted of any thorough exploration of the interior of the building. The danger arising from the fiery missies which continued to fall in the immediate vicinity of the block was manifested in the case of Branchman Boreham, who was struck by some slates while he was ascending a ladder. One of the pieces was received upon the wrist of the loft arm and inflicted an incised wound. The hemorrhage resulting from the wound was so excessive that the poor fellow fainted and had to be removed to the Clauricardo Hotel, where tbe customary restoratives were applied. He was thence conveyed to the residence of Dr. Dawson, in Wcllcsley-strcet, and the wound was at once dressed. In the meantime the Salvage Corps had been performing excellent service in protecting from injury the property contained in the establishments of Messrs Reynolds (lapidist), Tunny (Government analyst), and Field (printer), and the consequence is that those persons have sustained only an immaterial loss. The entire extent of roofing has of course been injured, but the real damage is concentred within the limits of the premises in which the fire took its rise. It was the invariable rule to keep gas jets burning in the lacquer room from Saturday night to Monday morning, and here the flames burst out, spreading thence to the drawing-room and pattern loft. The flooring and ceiling of these rooms have been greatly blackened and charred, while in the lacquer room the greater part of the floor and roof has been wholly consumed. Mr Forster sleeps on tbe premises in an apartment off the fittingshop, and he seems to have had a narrow escape with his life. He was awakened by thenoiseoccasionedbythefallingplaster, and on rushing to the door of his bedroom perceived that the place was on fire, while'the flames seemed to deprive him of any hope of flight by the staircase. Comprehending at a glance the desperate character of the situation he rushed past the burning mass and slid down the bannister of the stairs half suffocated by the dense smoke. Constable McDonald happened to detect tho glare at tho same time, aud assisted to save the books and cash box. Tbe amount of the damage done is not accurately known, but an approximate computation fixes it at £900. The block is insured by Mr Masefield in the Royal for £1,000, while Messrs Branston and Forster have their stock insured iv the office of the New Zealand Company for £1,350, £1,000 beiug on tbe genernl stock and £350 on the contents of the pattern loft. Both Mr Keynolds and Mr Field are uninsured, but Mr Tunny is protected by a small amount. Of course nothing definite is known as to the circumstances under which the fire broke out, although there are several theories abroad. Fortunately, however, its extent and magnitude have been restricted beyond what was deemed probable when the Brigade commenced operations.