EXTENSIVE FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

Dunstan Times, Issue 202, 10 March 1866, Page 3

EXTENSIVE FIRE IN DUNEDIN.

(From the Daily Times of March 5.) After fceveral months' freedom from fire our citizens were, about 11 o'clock last night startled by the alarm bell, and a large number turned out to watch, or to try to check a fire which had commenced in Maclaggan-street, and . which very speedily swept over a large extent of ground, destroying two hotels and a board-ing-house, and fully thirty dwelling-houses or other premises—all of wood.

The Caledonian Boarding-house, kept by Mr. T. Bailey, stood on the westerly side of Maclaggan-street, about midway between the Scandinavian Hotel and the Melbourne Hotel. It was in the Caledonian that the fire first commenced. Certainly the flames came first from the back of the house. We have heard two stories

explaining its origin—one being that a light was accidentally dropped into a vessel filled with fat in the kitchen; and the other that it commenced in one of the bed rooms. The first blaze must have been very strong, for by the time those roused by the fire bell arrived, though it was so promptly rung as to be the first warning even to many residing near, the house was almost wrapped in flames.

So rapidly did the fire spread in the Caledonian that some of the lodgers were glad to escape leaving their clothes and money behind, and a sick man was saved with very great difficulty, having'to be helped through one of the windows.

The Yolunteer Fire Brigade were" very quickly on the spot with their apparatus, and there are one or two small streams in the neighborhood, which yielded an immediate supply of water, though not a considerable one. As soon as the fire had thoroughly seized upon the Coledonian, it was seen that the opposite side of the street was in danger, the premises there exposed to the greatest heat at the moment being the Australasian Hotel, kept by Mr Campbell. The :ront smoked fiercely ; but some of the Brigade got the little hand pump, and prevented a breaking into flame.

Up the street,'the fire stalked before the c i ear wind, and downwards it did more than tent ; creep against it. On each side, in every wr j t , house, &c, in the block, there was a strug- ac |j o j gle to to remove furniture, and in one of them a man was seen in an upper room w ar throwing things through the window up to t h e fl the time when the fire filled the place. i n t j, There was a cry that he was lost, and there were those who saw him caught by the \ flames. We are glad to say, however, , ~ that this Avas not the case. The man !r dashed through, and got to the stairs, where * he was safe. We believe it was Mr J. E. 6> Mills who exposed himself to this risk. covel

In less than half an hour from the alarm the Scandanavian on one side, and the Melbourne on the other were blazing, the remains of the Caledonian having settled into a steady glare. The heat at this time was terrific.

For a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards along Maclaggan-street there is nothing left but embers and shaky chimney-stacks. The distance back to which the fire extended varies considerably, but at one point it must be about one hundred yards. The following list ef premises destroyed is by no means a complete one. _ It includes little more than those fronting Maclaggan-street:— T. Hudson's Scandinavian Hotel; Thomas Dickson's livery stables, fronting Clark-street: J. Black, baker and grocer; Miss Frederic, dressmaker; Mrs. Davidson; William Burns, bootmaker; Thomas Colquhon, livery stable keeper; Thomas Bailey, Caledonian Boarding-house ; two dwellinghouses; J. Harris; Bissett, butcher; Oliver Cummins, storekeeper; two cottages; Mrs. Wainwright (a two.storied house; Miss Cook; James Johnston, Melbourne Hotel; a shop; Miss Alice Davis, dressmaker; a cottage; Miss Johnstone; two cottages; J. Taylor, grocer, and wine and spirit dealer; Scott and Reid, blacksmiths; Tomlinson and Co., wharf carters.

A considerable portion of the furniture in the premises fronting Maclaggan-street could not be saved. Much of what was got out had to be again removed to avoid destruction by the intense heat; and it is to be recorded that men present refused to assist in this work when appealed to. Far up Maclaggan-street, in High-street, and even in Stafford-street, there was constantly danger to premises from the heavy flakes of fire which were so thickly blown about. We heard that Mr and Mrs Bailey were from home when the fire commenced, and probably from this arose the rumor that their child or one of their childred, was not saved; but at present there is no cer tainty of any loss of life. Two or three members of the Fire Brigade met with accidents, and had to retire. The sick man mentioned above was taken to Godfrey's Alhambra Hotel. Particulars as to insurances were not obtainable last night. We believe, however it will prove that the Melbourne Hotel was pretty well covered, and that the Scandinavian and Colquhon's stables are partially insured. Mr. Watson's type was nearly all got out; his presses, we presume, had to be left.

There should be a strict inquiry as to the origin of this fire, which, although, in the value of property destroyed, is not to be compared to some here, will cause the greatest suffering to a large number of persons. As will he seen elsewhere, we suggest that a subscription for their relief should be at once commenced.