FIRE ON THE QUAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 5

FIRE ON THE QUAY.

QUENCHED IN TIME. OUTBREAK IN THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS. BRIGADE AND POLICE. AND THE PART THEY PLATED. Excitement was a-tiptoe in iho city last evening when it was known that the Govaniment Buildings—"the larger wooden buildings in the world"—wore on lire, and soon some hundreds of people had collected in Lainbton Quay and round the other sides of the block. Fortunately the fire was confined to the Stamp Department office, where it originated, and, as tlwc was a good pressure of water at the time, the flames never seriously threatened to envelop the main building. It was a few minutes before 10 o'clock whoa the outbreak wo* discovered. At the time the usual staff of watchmen wove on the grounds and some in the buildings, but no sign of smoke or fire was seen until the May-Oatway alarm, on the Lambton Quay side of tlio edifico, indicated that there was trouble in the stamp oflice. At the samo time the alarm was alfo given at the Lunbloii Quay Police Station, there being a connection between the buildings. In quick time a squad of police had joined the staff of watchmen, and the (ire was then seen to lie in a room on the west side of (lie Stamp Department—ji one-storoyed dotaelied building on the Fealherston Street sridc of the block. A lead of hose was at once taken through a window and played on the flames. The Control Fire Station received the call at 9.5.5 p.m., and two firo c.irts then hurried to the scene. Olio also arrived from Thermion, and the building was attacked with two more loads of hose. Groat volumes of smoke were now rising from the office, but the real outbreak was confined.to narrow limits and, by about ton minutes past ten, all danger of tho large building catching fire was at an end. Before half-past ton the tlames had been extinguished, and then the firemen set to work to remove further danger from smouldering timbers. DAMAGE DONE. Mr. P. C. Corliss, Commissioner of Stamp*, and with Messrs. Willeston, Sisson and other members of tho staff made an examination of tho rooms. Company records, private documents, and dies were all protected in fireproof' safes, but as there was 110 similar accommodation for tho Departmental records they were simply stored 011 shelves in the different rooms, and consequently Buffered' considerably from water and smoke. Quite a lot, too, were carried away by tho rush of water from (lie hose, so that tho loss (0 tho country will be fairly serious from one point of view. Tho room where tho cheques and other documents of a like nature are duty-stamped has been to a certain extent put ont<of action, and so business people may suffer some inconvenience through delay in tho return of their papers from this branch. In another room .the papers in connection with deceased persons' estates woro soaked through and through with water, and will have to be carefully dried again. Altogether officers of the Department seem likely to liavo a busy time clearing up. While it is really not quite clear as to where tho firo originated, it seems probable that it broke out in the Chief Clerk's room, as one of the walls over the fireplace was found to l>e burnt up to tho ceiling The other portion of tho building was not badly damaged by actual firo, but'of course it will be necessary for tho Department to change quarters for a time, and the Commissioner was conferred with by the Minister last night in regard to such change. ' "HELP! HELPI" During tho time that the fire was in progrcs some real excitement was causcd by cries of "Help!" "Help!" coming fto 111 within the building, f'lt appeared afterwards that an officer of tho Department, named Mr. Mason, had ventured inside with the object of doing something good, but liad found the snioko too much for him. Constable Kelly hod consequently lo burst in a locked door in order to effect a roscuc, and Mr. Mason was brought into tho open air again. 'He had found inhalations of tho thick smoke and fumes anything but pleasant. Aii informant who takes particular interest in affairs pertaining to the Native Lands Department, calls attention to tho ineffective measures taken to preserve tho records of tho Nntive Department in event of fne. A small safe, it is stated, is tho only repository for tho valuable rccords. of the Department. Great credit is duo lo Mr. Lo Cren, of tho Nativo Department, says our informant, for tho prompt action which ho took in regard to the records. Sir. Lo Cren, it appears, immediately removed the most valuable of tho records to a place of safety. According to onr informant a strong room is absolutely necessary to preservo the valuable rccords which are now absolutely unprotected.

SCENE IN PARLIAMENT. Thero was something approaching a stampede from tho Parliament Buildings and their precincts last evening when it was announced that an outbreak of fire had occurred at Government Buildings. Tho news arrived as tho House was about to resume at 10 p.m., after tho 6upper adjournment, and many members and visitors at once departed hurriedly for tho scene. , Some difficulty was experienced in getting enough members together to form a quorum, so that tho House might bo adjourned for a lime. Even when tho boll had been rung a second lira* few members took their places, but a number stood in animated groups near the doors. Mr. Speaker asked if members desired Hint ho should leave his place for a time, and tho lion. J. A. Millar at once roso to propose that tho House should adjourn for half an hour. The Speaker announced that ho would resume his scat at 10.30 p.m. Almost every member then immediately departed to see (ho fire. The liouso resumed quietly at 10.30 p.m., and save for a remark by Mr. liced (whose speech had been interrupted) that ho was glad that no great damage had !>con done "down below," there was no further departure from normal procedure. THE BRIGADE. At 10.10 last night the reflection of (lames in mid-city reddened the sky, and people wondered from whence came the light. Hells rang, trams stopped, engines loaded with, firemen rushed through thestartled night. Scarlet motors dashed along, and the public ran in the direction of the glare to see what was wint. More bells, Parliament adjourned ior halt an hour, as tho building (the Government lluildings), known as the largest wooden structure smith of the Line, was ablaze. ".Stop the lire!" says someone. "Don't worry,'' says another. Chnbbs are theio all the time saving the A 2,000,000 worth of securities!" Chubb's safes and strong doors protect everyone against such -risks. Manager in New' Zealand. James Dykes of dialler, Dvkes and Co., HO Fealherslon Street, Wellingtoii.-Advl. 110.