FIRE IN IRELAND STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 296, 21 December 1885, Page 2

FIRE IN IRELAND STREET.

At 10 minutes to five on Saturday aftornoon an alarm of fire was rung out on the bells in various parts of tho City, Tho smoke that rose in volumes to the sky, soon proclaimed the scene of destruction to be somowhero in the South Ward. Under Superintendent Hughes, tho Fire Brigade quickly turned out, and poceoded westward guided by tho pillar of smoke, they speedily ascertained that tho fn c was in Iroland-street, a narrow thoroughfaro running parallel with Franklin Road and debouching into England-street. The Ponsonby Fire Brigade, undor Foroman Cummings, and the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, were also upon the ground, the former being tho first of the three bodies to arrive. It waafoundthatthe flames had full possession of the seven-roomed residence of Captain Peter Matzen, while tho adjoining residence of Mrs Ellis seemed to be in imminent danger. A hose was quickly run out, and in a few moments tho plentiful supply of water arrested the progress of the consuming element, and in 5 or 10 minutes longer completely extinguished tho conflagration, thus putting an end to all danger. Tho charred frame of Captain Mattson's was left standing as a monument of tbo efficiency of the Fire Brigade and the city water supply, but fortunately the owner had managed to save a good deal of his furniture. Mrs Elli&'s house was charred on the Bide and roof, and this, with some injury to her furnituro by removal, is her only loss. Ono of the chimneys of Captain Matzen's house, evidently rather unskilfully built, unexpectedly fell during the progress of the fire, and four firemen had, in consequence, a very narrow escape. Lest a similar accident should occur, Superintendent Hughes had tbo other chimney pulled down. Nothing definite is known as to the origin of the affair. Matzen says that there was a fire in an open fireplace in the washhouse, at the back of the kitchen, She was at the time in the kitchen at work, when, hearing a roaring noise, she went into the houso, and saw flames issuing from the casing of the chimney, their efforts to extinguish tho fire being futile. She called her husband, who was busy painting the fence, and with the assistance of the neighbours, they got out as much of the furniture as possible. Captain Matzen's house was insured for £300, and the furniture for £200, in the Norwich Union. The resHenco of Mrs Ellie, owned by a Mr Cnok, hur insured inthaSouth British for £16'). Mr Dun.-ford, another neighbour, had iiii- furniture in-, cured for £lou in the Colonial, but the i damage is wholly nominal, '