FIRE IN VICTORIA-ST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 4325, 26 March 1884, Page 3

FIRE IN VICTORIA-ST.

The Aurora Hotel Partially

Destroyed.

Narrow Escape of tho Blook,—lnsurances, £2,400.

Considerable excitement was caused in town this afternoon by an alarm of fire, which was taken up by the various bells and continued for some time. No difficulty was experienced in discovering the cause of the alarm. Dense volume, of smoke ascended from tho direction of Chapelstreet, and on arriving in that neighbourhood it was found that the Aurora Hotel was on fire. The flames had not at that time broken through tho roof, but smoke was issuing from the various apertures, thus giving strength to the impression that the fire had obtained a firm hold. A crowd began to assemble very speedily, and the burning building was soon surrounded by an immense throng of persons, the majority of whom appeared to have been attracted from their business in town by the ringing of the bells and the desire to Witness tho conflagration. A Narrow Escape. When tho first half-dozen neighbours arrived on the scene, they wero astonished to observo the female cook of the hotel, a woman named Jane Kennedy, at one of the upstairs wlhdows. Her exit by tho ordinary means appeared to have been cut off, and she was calling for help. Mr Bell, butcher, and several other persons obtained a ladder, and it having been placed underneath the window, shemade her escape by this means. Had the assistance not reached her when it did, there is but little doubt that sho would have been suffocated by the dense Bmoke. She explained to her rescuers that when the alarm was given she had gone upstairs with the object of getting her clothes and effects, and that she was then unable to return as she had gone. Her property was allowed to remain behind her. The Firo Brigade on tho Scone. The Fire Brigade arrived on the scene within a few minutes of the first alarm, and at this time both smoke fthd flame were making their appearance through tho roof. It could easily be seen that the firo hud broken out on the first floor, and apparently in one of the bedroo-n- facing Chapel - street. Leads of hose Wero carried through an upper window on tho Chapel - street side, and through tho hall entrance in Victoria-street. Some difficulty was experienced in getting to tlie seat of the fire and to assist the object in view sheets of lion wore torn off. The effect of the stream of water was soon apparent, and the volumes of smoke gradually diminished in density, or changod into cloud. Uf stoam. kockloss Conduct. It was not difficult to see that the firo would be speedily extinguished, and orders woro given that nothiag in tho shape if furnituro or other good* should bo removed from tho hotel. Tlioao commands were, however, wholly disregarded, and constant vigilanco on tho part of Superintendant Hughes and tho polico was necessary to prevent the usual wholosulo destruction of property caused by irresponsible persons throwing articles from Upstairs windows. At one timo several porsOns, adorned with pocket-handkerchiefs on their arms, \\ ero discovered passing things out of an up-etatrs window in tho boarding portion of tbo promises. They wero ordered out of the place, but again and again interference was found necessary to prevent similar reckless conduct. Firo Undor Control. The firo was undor control very soon after the arrival of tho Brigade. There was no hitch whatever so far as water was concerned, the prossuro being good, and tho connections speedily mado. Considering the difficulties attending their operations, the Brigade worked smartly and well, Tho branchmen followed up their advantage, and the leads being taken upstairs, every vestigo of burning wood was soon thoroughly saturated With water. The Damage. An itiAeßtigaticn of tho damapo showed that it was very extensive* and cortainly much tnore so than would, be imagined by a glance from tho outnlde. 9?he fire Was confined to what is known as tho old part of tho hotel above the bar, but this is completely gutted. Tho whole of the interior of tho first and second floors may be said to be burnt out, and there can bo but littlo donbt that at least the greater portion of tho hotel will require to bo re-constructed. Origin UnltnOWS. Nothing li known concerning the origin of the fire." The outbreak occurred in No. 7 bedroom upstairs, in which thero ore said to be seven bods. It was occupied by John Quinn, a lodaer, and it was at first supposed that he had been smoking in bed. No other rekson for the presence of fire could be assigned, seeing that there is not a single fire-placo in this portion of the premises. He, howerer, denied that lie was iti his bed-room after seven o'clock this morning. When the firo broke out, ho was in the billiard-room, and asleep. The incipient fire must have been smouldering some considerable time, as more than an hour previously Mary Braslan, a domestic servant in the hotel, 'told Sarah Lynch, a little girl, that she could smell fire somewhere. She was in Qulnn's bedroom at 11.30 a.m., and made the bed, but thore was no appearance of fire then.

Discovery of the Fire. It "would appear that the discovery'of the outbreak wns made by Mary Braslan. She was in the passage upstairs when she saw smoke und rite coming through the top of the wall of Quinn's room, She screamed out, and Mr Lynch, the proprietor, who was downstairs, enme ninning up and opened tho door. The fire burst out in his face, and both he and tho girl beat a precipitate retract. No one appears to have been on the first floor where the fire occurred for some time previous te the outbreak, with the exception of tho servant and Mr Lynch. The latter went to his bedroom to chango his hat about twenty minutes previously, and saw no sign of fire then," - - ■ The police under Sergeant Gamble, Detec' fives Walker and Twohey, ond the Salvage Corps and others, were present, and lent assistance during the progress of the conflagration. Insurances. Tho hotel is owned by Messrs Brown, Campbell, and Co., and they have the place' insured in the Now Zealand Office as foi- , lows:'— Building, £1,500; stock, £250; furniture, £500 ; billiard table, fl50; total, £2,400. Of this amount, £1,400 is re-insured in variouß offices. The portion of the building destroyed is covered by £400 in the New Zealand, of which £150 is re-insured in the South British.