Fire at Greymouth.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5373, 12 November 1888, Page 2

Fire at Greymouth.

[per press association.]

Gbevmoutii, Last night. A fire occurred last night at the residence of Mr. Blackmore, brewer, at tho corner of Murray and Alexander streets. In a marvellously short time the building was in flames, and by the time the engine arrived a second house, occupied by Mr. Dobson, surveyor, was also on fire. * Mr. Dobson managed to save most of his furniture, but lost a theodolite. The second houso was mostly pulled down in order to save tho third one, occupied by Mr. Strike, cordial maker. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmore were out at the time of the fire, and saved nothing. Their loss is heavy, though their furniture was insured for £150. Tho firemen had to pump water about 1200 feet, and uphill. The cause of the firo is supposed to be a defect in a chimney through which a spark ignited some straw and stuff brought iuto a loft by sparrows. This after becoming ignited smouldered some time, until it broke out into a mass of flame. A fireman named Harry Little was seriously injured in the j head by a grappling hook falling on him. Several others were slightly injured. The children in Mr. Blackmore's house know nothing of tho fire until it broke out, and there was somo little difficulty in saving one of tho youngest, who struggled against being taken out of bed, though the room was full of smoko. Tho three bouses belonged to Mr. M'Kinty, publican, who is insured in tho Standard and National for £-100.