FIRE IN WELLESLEYSTREET WEST.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 87, 14 April 1899, Page 4

FIRE IN WELLESLEYSTREET WEST.

BOARDIXGHOUSES DESTKOYED

AiND. DAMAGED,

A BIG FIEE PREVENTED,

A fire broke out in Wellesley-street West shortly before one o'clock tiiis morning, resulting in a two-storeyed house occupied by Mrs Gibb as a boardinghouse being gutted and two rooms of an adjoining boardinghouse, occupied -by Mr James Kirk, being burned. The two premises contained a large number of rooms, and with/ the wind high the fire at first promised to be a big affair. However, the Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, did really, good work, and go the fire under. They first got their ladders up, tore off the roofing and soon had the leads of hose on the burning buildings. . It looked for a time as if both boardinghouses would1 go, as the flames got in by.the side window'into the ground floor of Mr Kirk's premises, and the side of the' upper storey also caught fire.

The fire originated in Mrs Gibb'g house, and all are agreed it started in the kitchen. Mr Gooch, one of Mrs Gibb's boarders, sleeping on the i ground floor, had his attention at- ! trflcted by a crackling noise. He got \up to ascertain the cause and found the kitchen in flames. He at phce gave the alarm to his fellow-boatdert. There were four females sleeping- up- ■-"-" stairs, namely, Mrs Gibb, her daughter (Mrs Eicfiardson), and two other young women boarders, and they had1 a narrow escape in getting out- But for Mr Goqch's timely discovery of the fire they believe they would have been suffocated. They lost their personal effects, but the male boarders on the ground floor got the most of their belongings out. Mrs Gibb had an insurance of £50 on her furniture in the Alliance office, and Mr E. M. Heighton, who owns the building, had it insured for £250 in the RoyaL

Mr Kirk had his building insured in the Commercial Union for £400, but it is stated something under £ 100 will , repair the damage done to the building. The furniture is insured for £300 in the Royal. The total damage to Mr Kirk's place is the charring of the side of the building, the damage in the two rooms on the ground floor, and the loss through removal of furniture and injury, -to effects by water.

The Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, and the police, with Sergeant Kelly at the head of affairs, did good * work at the fire, and altogether a big fire was prevented. The other houses in the block are all of wood. .