FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 256, 31 October 1887, Page 8

FIRES.

OUTBBEAK AT LAMB'S MILL.

About ton minutes past 2 o'clock this morning, a fire was discovered in an incipient stage in the engine room of Mr John Lamb's Mill, Fort-street, by Constabl 0 Donovan. Tho constable promptly entered the building and found some pieces of loose boards which werelying on the floor near tho fireplace of the engine. These wore burning, and tho end of an old temporary partition which is used for tho purpose of keeping the coal from scaling was also on tire. Constables Donovan and Sheehan, assisted by Messrs Watts (night watchman on tho Wharf) and Green (night watchman at the railway), speedily extinguished the lire with a few buckets of water before much damage was done. The fire ceeins to have originated from hot ashes falling on the boards when the lire was drawn out. This theory is strengthened from the fact that ashes were visible on the coal and on tho floor.

Fire at Sims and Brown's Yard.

When Mr Sims (of bhe firm of Sims and Brown, boab-builders, Cusboms-street) arrived ab his yards this morning about 7 o'clock, he was informed that bhe office ab bhe back of his workshop was discovered on fire lasb nighb, by some persons who were passing. Forbunabely, very little damage was done. An examination showed that some shavings by the wall of the house had been on fire, and partly burned some of the weather-boards. Apparently the fire was the resulb ot a match carelessly bhrown down eibher by ono of bhe men or some of the boys who go to bhe yards to gather chips. The workshop and office are insured in the New Zealand for £100. The fire was pub out by a fisherman named Kenny, and another man named Henrichson. Had nob bhe lire been extinguished, Messrs Sims and Brown would have been losers. Fire at Razor back. A range of buildings consisting of bakehouse, a 4 sballed stable and cbafi'room, bhe properby of Mr Campbell, sborekeeper, Razorback was burned to the ground on Thursday morning last under circumstances which points to it as clearly tho work of malicious hands.

The fire originated at the partition which separated the bakehouse from the stable, and spread both ways with fearful rapidiby. There was no candle lighted in either place on that night, and there was no wood in the oven as there would be no baking on Thursday.

The loss to the baker is about £40, and to Mr Campbell senior about £100, the buildings being nearly new, none of which was covered with insurance.

The fire was firsb observed by Mrs Campbell between 12-30 and 1 a.m., who wakened Mr Campbell, then ran to pub up bhe baker, her son, bub all that could be done was to save the store and dwelling-house.

The police are inquiring inbo bhe mabber, and ib will be well if bhey can succeed in ferrebing oub bhe miscreanb or. miscreants. Of course, the fire will stop bhe supply of bread for a few days.