Fire in Wellington-street.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 228, 28 September 1887, Page 5

Fire in Wellington-street.

Another outbreak of fire took place at a quarter past four this morning—this time in Wellington-street—and resulted in the destruction of a grocery store and two dwellings, owned by Mr James Lyle, baker, of Wellington-street. The fire broke out unaccountably in the store which is occupied by John McNamara, and burned very rapidly, despite the exertions of the Fire Brigade. The dwellings, which were also destroyed, consisted of a three-roomed cottage situated on the western side of the shop, and occupied by Josiah Mallett, and a four - roomed cottage situated on the eastern side of the shop, and occupied by William Robertson. Mr Mallett's and Mr Robertson's furniture waa uninsured, but the most of it was saved by the Salvage Corps and the neighbours. Mrs Annie McNamara stated that her husband left yesterday morning for Corornandel, and'"that: the only occupants of the. store last night were herself and children and a girl of 15, named Margaret Flynn. She retired to rest at 11 p.m., leaving a small fire burning in the sitting-room, as one of her children was sick. She was aroused this morning by the crackling of fire, and had to beat a hasty retreat from the house along with her children and the girl Flynn. None of the furniture was saved, but both it \and the effects are insured in the Royal for £300, viz., £180 on the stock and £120 on the furniture. Mrs McNamara sustained such a fright from the fire that she had a succession of fainting fits after leaving the burning house. The occupants of the cottages were awakened by the neighbours calling "fire." Mr Mallett states that when lie got out he noticed that' the flames were blazing in the shop close to the window. Mr Lyle had the shop insured for £120, Mallett's cottage for £80, and Robertson's cottage for £125, all in the South British Insurance Company.