THE LATE FIRE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVII, Issue 4380, 29 August 1871, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE.

Yesterday the scene of the late fire was visited by a very large nurnbev of persons anxious to examine the place, to enable them to form an opinion as to how or where the fire originated. The burned condition of the floor immediately at the foot of where the stair was shows plainly that there the lire commenced, and that it had a firm hold before any other part of the building was on fire. Another fact which came to onr knowledge yesterday seems to confirm this opinion, and would aeem to indicate how the fire had been kindled. The back of the building fronts Mills - lane, and the row of windows which lighted the diningroom are on a level with the street, and are protected by iron stanchions. It will be remembered that the stair leading uj) to the dining-room was iv the end of the building next to the harbour. We have been informed that, before the fire had a firm hold on the building, it wasobserved that the window faeingMillslane and the one next to the harbour had been broken. The top of the stair from the lower floor came right under that window, and what easier than to break the window in the dark and lonely lane, throw the burning combustibles with which the place was to be fired in through the window, and they would naturally roll down the stair to the foot, and then produce the effects now seen, and kindle the fire which destroyed the building? This theory of course asdumes that the fire was an incendiary one, a view that few now doubfc. The floor in front of the fireplace near the stair is quite sound, thus allowing thatit was not caused by a cinder rolling accidentally on to the floor. Besides,§it must be remembered that nearly six hours had elapsed since the place was closed before the fire was discovered. From Mills -lane there are many avenues of escape— -paths leading into West Queen-street, Albert-street, Custom-house-street, and into several parts of Queen-street. The whole insurance building was insured by the Insurance Company in the Victoria Insurance Company for £5,000; and Mr. Miller, the local agent of that company, setmen to work yesterday to pull down the back wall, which has been much damaged by the fire, in fact rendered unsafe i'ov people passing along Mills- lane. JVlen were also employed taking ofl' the broken | glass which covers in the area in front of the offices. We understand that a preliminary investigation into the matter will take place to-day or to-morrow. In such cases as this perhaps the offer of a good reward would have a beneficial effect in eliciting evidence. The offers of rewards in the case of several previous fires have produced results which, we understand, are well appreciated by the police authorities. With reference to the efforts made by the Fire Brigade to extinguish the fire, we have received the following letter : — " Wharf Mill, August 28, 1871.— Sir, - I beg to draw your attention to the following paragraph in your issue of this morning, relative to the fire in the Insurance Buildings, on Sunday morning last, viz. : ' Steam having now been got up at Firth's mill, water was pumped up from the connecbing-pipe which leads into the harbour beyond low-« ater mark ; and the supply was so abundant that the flames were quickly subdued, and in another hour the fire may be said to have been extinguished.' I beg to say that, in accordance with general instructions from Mr. Firth, I was ac the mill at ten minutes past three, and at twenty minutes past three steam was up, and the engine ready to commence pumping. How it was that our assistance was noc applied for until fully half-an-hour afterwards, I am unable to aay. I may further state that I was in attendance on the engine, pumping water; at intervals, until twelve o'clock' noon.— l am, &c, Edwin TeeMAiir,:e*groee* »tf WtourfMill."