FIRE AT PARNELL

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 207, 3 September 1886, Page 2

FIRE AT PARNELL

Aiiout ton minutes to ten o'clock last evoking tho reflection of a tiro was discernible on the eastern side of tho city. In a few moments the suburban bells rang out the alarm. In a short time crowds of people were congregated in Symonds street, where a good view could" be obtained of the fire, which was then eeen to be in tho upper part of ; Parnell. Tho fire proved to be at the residence of Mr John Adolphus Laing, of the New Zealand Shipping Co. This is a nine-roomed villa, situated in St. Stephen's Avenue, and was the property of Major James Gay. By the time the Parnell Fire Brigade and the Salvage Corps had arrived, the building was completely enveloped in flames, in fact the fire had got sach a strong hold before it was discovered that there was no hope of caving the building, more especially when such a fierce gale was blowing. The Brigade therefore turned their attention to Baying the adjacent premises. Fortunately the villa was detached, otherwisea very large fire must have resulted Nothing is known as to the origin of the tire, as there was no one in the house when the tire originated. Mr William Scott Xyell, a resident of Bridgewater Road, Parnell, who was the first to discover the fire, states that he wos returning from visiting his father's residence in St. Stephen's Road. As he turned tho corner of Bridgewater Road and St. Stephen's Avenue he saw a tire bursting through the centre of the roof of Mr Laing's house, rather towards the back. Ho ran, and knocked at the door, and shouted out fire. Receiving no answer, he then burst in the door, when he discovered that the inside of the house was ail in flames. About this time Mr James Pbilßon and others came to his assistance. They broke open the bedroom window and succeeded in saving about £50 worth of furniture before the premises were totally destroyed by the devouring element. Whon Mr Lyell entered the grounds there was no ono to be eeen about the premises. Had it not been for the prompt action of that gentleman, assisted by Messrs Frater, Seymour George, James Philaon, A. D. Bennett, Etheridge, and other neighbours, everything in the house must have been destroyed.

Mr Laing states that he left home about 7 o'clock last evening to attend tbo performance at the Opera House, Auckland. His wife loft the house at the some time to spend the evening at her father's—the Hon. Mr Chamberlain—who resides in Gladstone Road, Parnell. Tbo servant also wont to visit her parent? at Poosonby. When they left the house was locked, and everything was apparently safe He had his furniture and effects insured in tho South British Company for £500 He estimates *hat ho lost £300 worth of property more than the amount covered by his insurance. His weddiDg presents nione would have amounted to nearly the sum for which ho was insured. Ada Moffat, the servant to Mrs Laing, states that she loft the bouse at the same time as Mrs Laing. There was a fire in the Uitchin, were eomejsheets left to air on a clothes horse in front of the fire, but a good distance back. In fact, she was able to sit between them and the fire, so that she thought there was little danger of them takine fire. Although Mr Laing was aware that a firo had occurred in Parnell, it was not until the clos* of the performance of " Lea (. loehes " that ho learned that it was bis own rfsidonc•». It was not until near midnight that he arriv.d at Mr Chamberlain's. Mrs Laing lost all her clothing and jewellery, amongst which was a sealskin cloak which she had recently purchased for £30 The building waa ineurod by Mr Gay in the New Zealand for £400.

A TERB'BLE LANDSLIP

DESTRUCTION OF A CANTERBURY HOMESTEAD.

Narrow Escape of Sixteen Persons.

The late continuous rain has been the cause of a disaster at Pigeon Bay, whioh has swept away completely one of tho oldest residences in Canterbury, and converted what was a charming spot into perfect desolation. Fortunately, however, no loss of lite occurred, though, had the accident happened at night or earlier in the morning, it is probable we should have bad to chronicle a sad disaster. As it was the escape of Mr Thomas Hay and his family from death may bo regarded as almost miraculous. There are Tew of tho older settlers who do not know the homestead of Annandalo well. Here it was thateome fortythree years ago Mr Ebenezer Hay settled down, and it has since become one of the most rioted of the estates of Canterbury. The house itself which has been added to and modernised, as it were, since its first building, stood back from the road a little, the mountain spur rising at the back. A lotter by Mrs Hay to her relatives in Christchurch contained a most graphic account of the disaster. Between eight and nine on Wednesday morning, 18th August tho men who were working on the farm beard a roar, and looking toward tho hills which rise up at the back of Annandale, saw the mountain, as it were, rending over their heads, and a 'gigantic land slip coming down. The alarm was at once given, and with praiseworthy prompttitude and coolness, eahc one seized a child and rushed down the pith from the house to the road. As tbey fled along in terror a second slip came down crushing the house to atoms, and the debris fell all around the flying fugitives, so close to them that the fall of earth was as it were upon them. Fortunately they were enablod to gain the road in safety, and ultimately took refuge ie the store. In the meanwhile tha house, which had been flattened to the earth by the fall of the slip, took fire. This waa caused by tho tires in different parts of the house which were log fires, the one in the kitchen being raised up above a large colonial oven. So soon as tha debris crushed on to the house, tho fire was thrown out in contact with tho boards and the remains Aunanaale were destroyed altogether in this way. The forco of the slip may be imagined when it is stated that the remains of the furniture,, <fee, were swept right out into the bay.

The family than made an attempt to get round to the hotel, but owing to tho large land slips which had fallen on the road bctwoen the hotel and the store, they wore unable to do so. The only method by which they could reach the shelter of tho hotel was by boats. This, owing to the sea running in the bay, was a work of some danger. Added to this the rain was descending in torrents, and they possessed little or nothing in tho shape of covering to keep out the wet. Ultimately they managed to reach the hotel, wet through and almost exhausted from the terrible scene through which they had passed. Once at the hotel Mr and Mrs Bridges did all in their power to make them comfortable._ It may be noted that there were at the time of the accident some sixteen persons at Annandale, including Mr and Mrs Hay and family and those employed on the farm. The other settlers in the Bay were so much alarmed Rafter the calamity that they, too, left their houses and sought refuge in the hotel.