OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 43, 19 February 1894, Page 2

OUTBREAKS OF FIRE.

Th£ fire bells have been busy in our midab since Saturday last, four outbreaks and one {alee alarm being reported.

At half past five o'clock yesterday morning, a shod vaiued at £5, the property of Mr S. Robertson, of Kingsland, was burned down. The shed was uninsured.

A fire was discovered in the Western Park at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. This proved to be a six-roomed house, formerly used as the park-keeper's residence, but latterly as a tool shed by the City Council. The house was burned down, but the tools were got out. It is thought that some passer-by threw down a match, which fired the grass, and this ignited the building.

Aa three o'clock yesterday afternoon the ten-roomed two-storied house situated in Vincent Road, Remuera, and occupied by Mr Andrew Hanna, solicitor, was burned to the ground. The tire broke out) in the servant's room, over the kitchen where the cooking was carried on. Mr Hanna and family left the house at 1.15. p.m., when all seemed safe. A large quantity of Mr Hanna's furniture, which is insured in the South British Office for £250; was saved. The house was owned by Mrs Gharlotte White, widow, of Orakei Road, and was insured in the South British Office for £450. The vinery was also insured for £20. The probable cause of the fire is that the heat from the kitchen stove chimney ignited the woodwork around the chimney.

The firebells rung out loudly at 1 o'clock this morning. The fire proved to be in buildings on the premises of Jas. Beard, hydropathic practitioner, in Karangahapo Road, and which adjoin the Tabernacle property. A workshop and closet of the value of £20 on Mr Beard's premises, and a bedroom of a cottage value abouc £10 or £12, belonging, to the Tabernacle trustees, were destroyed. Mr Beard's premises are owned by Mr L. D. Nathan. The fire probably originated through the placing of some hot ashes in the closet on Mr Beard's premises. While Constable Emerson was on duty in Queen-street at 4.30 yet'torday afternoon he noticed smoke issuing from under the City Hall. It was found that the smoke was coming from the premises of Mr G. Stevens, restaurant-keeper, who was burning rags and paper in tho cellar. A large crowd gathored, thinking . that the City Hall was on fire.