FIRE IN UPPER QUEEN-STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 3010, 10 December 1879, Page 3

FIRE IN UPPER QUEEN-STREET.

Early this morning, about half-past one, the public, and especially those who were doing the " light fantastic" in the Lomestreet Hall, were alarmed by the sudden clanging of the fire' bells; The queßtion •was soon passed from mouth to mouth, where is it ? "And immediately most of the dancers repaired to Upper Queen-street, where, there was a fire on the premises of Mr -Henry Kafton, basket maket. 'It ap- \ pears that that gentleman retired ;to rest with his wife and family at about half-past lp last evening, and at that time there WGre no signs of fire, and the premises were to all appearance.in' safety. About half-past' oneo'slock this morningthebaby awoke, and ■while attending to it Mrs Bafton noticed smoke.; She at once gave the alarm, and Mj" Bafton and herself took the children and went ont of the house. He shouted " fire,"a n d two men named William Steen a?d John Chambers gave the alarm by nnging the fire bell at the, junction of Upper "Queen and Grey streets. The police, under Superintendent Thomson, bub-Inspec% Pardy, and Sergeant Major Mason were quickly on the spot as were also the Salvage Corps under captain Butler;, and the fire brigade under fcupermtendent Hughes. A few minutes sufficed to get the "lire under, and it was soon extinguish^. The men entered Mr tempers shop adjoining, and pitched eveiy«wSf I r tbe stteet. thereby manifesting a S, "J 01? *«& than discretion. This gentleman M insured^ and will put in a claim for goods damaged by being thrown

inTtlie dust. Mr George Evitt also took a good deal of the merchandise out of his shop on the other side of Mr Kafton's house. The -damage done by the fire -was about

£15,0j and the building is insured by the owner, Mr Leighton, in the South British Insurance Co. . Mr Kafton is insured in the Colonial Office for £200. The place where the fire broke out was the cellar, which was used as a store and general workshop, but ttiej origin of it ia unknown, t Mr Rafton supposes it to have been caused by some one throwing a match through the. prating, and 1 through a broken pane in the window. This is very improbable as the distance, is quite Bft,1 from the window .to • the. flodr of the 1 cellar, .and any;. match thrown down would certainly, become extinguished in the transit. 'Beiides, it would be necessary to throw a match through a broken pane of glass, and : r.dund a oorner, before 1 setting fire to the shavings in the corner, where the conflagration originated. The principal damage consisjs;qf.:a portion of the floor and a joist being charred! and the injury the goods sustained when thrown out heedlessly into the street.