HOW THE ALARM WAS GIVEN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 68, 13 December 1907, Page 7

HOW THE ALARM WAS GIVEN.

The Fire Brigade received thoir first notification of the fire from . tho street alarm near Messrs. BingL, Harris, and Co.'e, at the

corner of Victoria and Harbour Streets. Mr. Wilby, who was the night watchman on duty nt the House of Parliament, stated yesterday that ho broke the alarm box in tho building to communicate with tho Firo Brigade, but as a matter of fact these boxes are merely to give the alarm in the buildings, and do not connect with the Firo Brigado station. The first mossage the man in charge at the station received was by telephone from the House, but by that time tho Brigade had left. CABLEGRAMS OP SYMPATHY. Sir Joseph Ward Ims deceived cablegrams of sympathy on tho loss of. tho Parliamentary Buildings from the Premier of Victoria, Secretary of State for tho Colonies (through His Excellency,the Governor), and the High Commissioner for New Zealand. The messages arc as follow:—

From. Hon. Thos. Bent:—"Tho Premier of Now Zealand, Wellington—The Government and Parliament of Victoria desire to express their deep sympathy with tho Minister}' and Parliament of Now Zealand in their irreparable national loss sustained by the people of your Domonion through the destruction of your Parliamentary Buildings and their valuable treasure."

I'rom tlio High Commissionor:—" Tho Premier of New Zealand, Wellington—All Now Zealanders grieved to linar of tho destruction of Parliamentary Buildings." From the Secretary of' State for tho Colonics:—"l have learned with great regret of destruction of Parliamentary Buildings by fire. Am glad to infer from the Press telegrams that no lives have been lost, but dpploro the loss of vahiahlo records and property, and tho inconvenience which has been caused to the Dominion and its Legislature by this misfortune."' THE MACE LOST. _ Ono notablo and regrottablo loss by the fi- o is that of tho Maco of the Houso of Representatives. It was kept in a separate cupuoard near the Speaker's room, and nobodv seoms to have thought of it on the morning of tho liro.- Tho oxact intrinsic value of ihe Maco wo were unable to ascertain yesterday, but it is estimated at from £100 to £200. It is understood to be gold-mounted and to contain jewels. Officers of tho House, who havo been long in tho service, say tho Maco was a present to the House bv Sir Charles Clifford, tho first Speaker, whose term was from 1851 to 185 G. Every member of tho House, and every past parliamentarian, will regret tho loss of this venorablo and sacred relic.

THE DESTROYED EXAMINATION PAPERS. The fact that matriculation and junior scholarship examination papers had been destroyed by the firo must have cast a gloom over the mimic, of those Wellington Girls' Golloge pupils who had toiled their way through them once, and who could only look forward to a partial holiday when the rest of tho school broko up. Speaking at the breaking up ceremony, Mr.' Joynt, .Registrar ?u n' 10 UW Zcalan(i University, said that Wei ington candidates for matriculation would be separately examined again in thoso subjects affected, but ,as tho junior scholarship'examination is a competitive one, all tho candidates throughout tho Dominion will have to take tho papers again. Tho examinations will be held on January 20 and 21. Tho papors lost woro thoso for'which pupils sat on Monday and Tuesday last.

The Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop) received a telegram yesterday from tho Hon. Dr. Findlay, Attorney-Gonera], convoying thanks for the expressions of sympathy with tho Govornmont and offers of holp, and stating that tha whole matter of what is to bo done will bo considered at the Cabinet moo ting on Monday. .

Thoro are many cases of privato losses bv tlve tiro. jrtr. Woodrojw, a clerk employed 111 tho buildings, lost a bic.vclo and several pounds' worth of effects, including a 0011siilorablrt sum in cash. Tho Hon. J. Carroll s messenger lost £5 in cash and a silver watch.

~A. fu " Cabinet meoting will bo held >'n Wellington on Monday next. Ministers'who are absent from Wellington at present will have returned by.that date. The position that has arisen out of the destruction of tho I arliamentary Buildings will then bo faced and plans ma<lo for tho futuro. 1

Tho contractor for tho new Sydney Street addition to tho Houso of Parliament, is Mr I'ram, not Train as stated yostcrday.