FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 143, 18 June 1887, Page 6

FIRES.

On the nighfc of the' sth inst! an outbreak of fire was discovered" in Masefield's buildings, Albert-street, and before it was quenched a valuable collection of patterns Belonging to Mr Francis Forster, plumber and brassfitter, had been completely destroyed.

Another outbreak of fire took place on the morning of the 28th instant—this time in Upper Queen-street- and resulted in the destruction of a five-roomed cottage owned by Mr Henry Donnelly. Mr J. Donnelly believes that the fire originated in tho kitchen, as it was in flames vnen he awoke.

A fire on the evening of 25th ult. destroyed two dwelling- houses and.two shops in Patte'son-street, Freeman's Bay. The properties all belonged to, Mr T. Biyington and were covered by.insurance. The buildings included cottages occupied by Mrs Beith and Mr Collins, and shops occupied by Mr Mackay, stationerfand Mrs C. Wells, fruiterer.. •■■ • i

About 2 a.m. on Thursday, 2nd inst., a fire broke out in an eight-room«d house in Albert Avenue, Mount Eden, belonging to Mr Keyes,' builder, and within half an hour the place was burned to the ground. Mr and Mrs Keyes and family had barely time to escape in their night clothes. The origin of the fare'is unknown.

An inquiry took place on the 26th ' ult. into the circumstances surroundiug the late fire at the' Free Public Library Buildings. The jury, after retiring a few minutes,- returned the following verdict: " We believe the fire to have been the work of an incendiary, but there is no evidence to show by whom." '. , ... ..'.. - [..' . .

• About one o'clock on the morning oE 27th May, the Royal Hotel, ' Onehunga, was totally destroyed by fire, and a servant girl named Annie Allan, who slept, on the premises, was'burned to ashes; The indications. , are that she was ' suffocated by the smoke while asleep and probably sbffered no pain. : The lessee, Mr Edward Hill, who was the only other person in the building at the time, escaoed -by leaping from his bed-room window , in his nightdress; but he was Badly burned, and also succumbed to his injuries. The fire is supposed to have been caused by a light left burning by Mr Hill when he went to sleep. , ' , ; ..