FIRE IN RICHMOND ROAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 65, 18 March 1887, Page 2

FIRE IN RICHMOND ROAD.

Ox the vorge of midnight last night an outbreak of tiro took placo in Porter's buildings, at the junction of Richmond Koad with Lincoln and Oliphant-fctreots, and resulted in the destruction of tho buildings before it was extinguished. The loe.-j is computed at about £1,000, and the iiisurancos do not amount to tuora than £700 By an unfortunate coincidence, tho four tenants of tho destroyed prop3rty wero totally uninsured, but tlio two landlords were protected by policies. Liko sj many other cayen of liro, tho cause of the outbreak bailloa explanation, it seems that at twenty minutes to VI o'clock lust night, a young man named John Petherick was passing along Hichinoud Koad near the juuetion in question, when his attootion was arrested b} a crackling of glass, und on looking around be perceived flumesburHtingthrough the backkitchonfide window facing Oliphant-streot cf tho corner shop. He at once give the alarm, and ftt about 11.45 tho Ponnonby bell began ringing, to bo soon followed by tho city iirobells. When tho Ponsonby branch fire brigado arrivod on tho ground tho corner building was already doomed, and tho firemen, running out two loads of hose from tho strosjthydmnt, endcavouredto keep the liro between Uanicls'd houeo on tho Rich mo id Uoad side, and Platt'e cottaeo on the Olipharct street side. They were speedily joined by Superintendent Hughes with the Utty Fire Brigado.and by Captain Field with the Salvage Corps. Meanwbilo, tho flames had spread to and taken complete poeeeseion of Mr John Porter's other buildings, viz , a five-roomed house occupied by Mr Plaisted, and a chop and two rooms occupied by Mr K>an, as well as to tho cottage of Mr Platt, of Newton, which was occupied by a Mr Murray. The iorinor two dwellings, along with the corner shop, wore burnt to tbo ground, whilo Mr Platt's cottago «aa completely gutted. Tho two-story residence of Mr DanieU, adjoining Mr -Ryan's shop, was naverl, although it nas in such jeoparly that tho tenant, had hi* furniture removed. The cornor shop had been unoccupied for months, but was formerly occupied as a mission school. Tho six rooms attached to it, inoluding the back kitohen wherein the (ire broke out, had boan in the occupation of Mr Woods till yesterday, when ho removed to another houso in Lincoln street. He bad not, however, given up the keys to Mr Porter, his time not being up till Monday. Tho insurances are as follows : - Shop and dwelling, six rooms, at cornor of Oliphantstreet aud Kichmond Koad, insured in South British by the owner, Mr Porter, £310 ; Ryan's shop and two rooms, £50 in South British, same owner : tenant, Kyan, uninsured ; cottago in Oliphantatreot occupiod by Mr Plaiated ; insured by Mr Porter for £200 in tho South British ; tenant Plaisted, uninsured ; cottage occupied by Mr Murray, insured by owner, Mr Platt, about £150 in South British ; tenant, Murray, uninsured. Daniels wasinßured in the Now Zealand for £150 ; furniture, £50 in tho Northern The only damago in this case ia done by water and removal of furniture. Moat of those burned out had time to remove tfieir ellects. Sergeant Kioly, Detective Tuoby, and a number of the city constables wore prosent to render aid, as was also Constable Graham, of the Ponsonby station.