A BIG BLAZE IN THE CITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 155, 29 December 1904, Page 5

A BIG BLAZE IN THE CITY.

* ST. GEORGE'S HALL DESTROYED. A STRIKING SPECTACLE ON A. STORMY NIGHT. One of the oldest architectural identic ties of Wellington — St. George's Hallj, Lambton-quay — was destroyed by fire last night. The alarm was sent to tlu> Fire Brigade from two places — Kirkcaldia and Stains and Mason's Steps — and when Superintendent Hugo and his men arrived a very few minutes later they found the fire was pretty well right through the* building, and the flames were belching out of the roof in a manner that was sufficient proof that they had. a firm hold. The street was quickly thronged with people, who braved the unpleasantness of a southerly gale and heavy raia to see what was a remarkably fine sight, and the fight between the Brigade and the flames was watched with the keenest interest. The lower part of the building was occupied by the Canada Gycle Company and by the Red Bird Cycle Def>ot, above it being a mattress and bedding manufactory belonging to Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains, while at the rear was the lodge-room of Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F., in which also the Ancient Order of Shepherds and Court Lady Glasgow, A.0.F., held their meetings. Adjoining, on the south side, is an iron building owned by Messrs. Joseph Nfl£ban and) Co., and occupied by the United Farmers' Co-operative Association; at the rear the premises of Messrs. Ballinger Bros, came almost close up to the old hall. The flames, urged on by the southerly gale, roared merrily, and showers of sparks were carried long distances over the Thorndon end of the city. The Brigade, however, soon got several' lea<k of ho&e going, and commenced a stern fight w ith. the enemy. The men who fought the fire- from the front of thti building had a particularly arduous time, and formed the centre of attraction. While the flames burst in huge billows from the roof they took up a position om the verandah immediately below, and., spite of falling beams and blazing chunks oi timber, they stuck to their posts, gradually gaining on the flames and all the time keeping it confined to the four walls of the building. As time went on, the whole of tha parapet in front became a red-hot mass ; then, amid cries of warding from th» crowd, it commenced to totter and sway. "Loa(k outl" yelled the crowd to the firemen, "come back." Not they. Frequently hidden by the rolling clouds of black smoke, with the parapet tottering overhead, they held on to the hose, heedless of the danger which overshadowed them. Then down came several pieces ,of blazing timber, but they went om pouring in the water as if that sort of thing was quite an ordinary occurrence. They escaped without injury— how, tha onlookers' could not understand — and gradually gained the mastery. Next, tha roof went in with a crash, more warn, ing cries from the crowd accompanying its fall, and shortly afterwards the diminishing volume of the flames showed that the fire-fighters were gaining tha upper hand. Not content with the verandah, they climbed up ladders to enable them better to get at the interior of the building, which by this time was nothing better than a fire-filled shell, and only left it when the flames in the interior were subdued and the front wall of the building tottered. Another section of the brigade clambered over the low roof of the Farmers* Co-Operative Association's store adjoining, and dealt with the fire in the Foresters' Hall at the rear. There, too, the flames had a real good hold, and bursting through the fanlight lighted up the whole of that portion of the locality with striking effect. The iron wall of the hall overlooking the store was redhot from one end to the other, and at the structure weakened with the enormous heat it swayed dangerously as tha heavy gusts of wind beat against it. It that wall gave way there would be very little chance for the store, which contained a large quantity of produce. However, the efforts of the firement wera successful. Some sheets of iron fell off the wall, but the main portion of the structure held together, and the streams of water poured on to it soon removed the danger. The consequence was that not much damage was done to the contents of the store — a result due also ia part to the fact that they had not been stored close up to the wall, and tha burning fragments that fell -did not coma into such direct contact with them as would otherwise have been the case. Summing up the position, the result of the fire is that St. George's Hall and the Lodge-room of Court Sir Georgo Grey, are practically burned to tha ground, only a portion of the outer walla remaining; the stocks of bicycles and furniture material stored in the hall have been destroyed, except a few machines rescued from the Red Bird Depot by th« police as soon as they found the place was on fire ; and a small amount of damage has been done to the stores of the United Farmers' Co-Operative Association. Also the regalia and effects of the friendly societies which met in tha Lodge-room have been destroyed. The Canada Cycle Company has, lost a large amount of stock. The building contained' something like a hundred new bicycles, and the same number of secondhand machines, practically all of which were destroyed. The Fire Police were early on the scene, and rendered valuable service. A number of volunteers also assisted in removing a quantity of ammunition from the Submarine Mining Corps' shed, near the Drill Hall, which was at one time thought to be in danger. The insurances are as follows : — Foresters' Hall, £500 on the building and £100 on contents, both in the South British I Office ; Canada Cycle Company (these include the Red Bird depot), contents, £500 in the Commercial Union Office, £1000 in the New Zealand Office, £2500 in the Alliance Office ; St. George's Hall, £1000 in the Commercial Union Office on the building. Messrs. Kirkcaldie and Stains had no insurance on the contents, and their loss is estimated at about £500. The United Farmers' Co-operative Association's slock was insured for £3000 in the United Company's Office. St. George's Hall was one of tEe landmarks of Wellington, and dates back to a very early period in the history of the Empire City. The laud on which it and the Foresters' Hall was built was conveyed to Court Sir George Grey, A.0.F., about forty years ago, through the instrumentality of the statesman after whom the Court is named. There was some litigation at the time as to which Court the land was intended for, but ultimately a Committee of the Legislative Council determined in favour of Court Sir Georgo Grey. The front portion of the section was leased for forty-two years, and St. George's Hall was erected on it by Messw Tpxward, Ladd, and Jackson, the least being afterwards taken over by Mesaro. Kirkcaldie and Stains. Nearly thirty years ago Court Sir George Grey erected its hall on the rear portion of the section, and has continued to hold its meetings within its walls ever since. It has also been used as a District Chambers of the Order, and latterly by Court Lady Glasgow and the Ancient Order of Shepherds. Court Sir George Grey kept its records, deeds, and securities in a safe on the premises of the Senior Trustee, Bro. J. P. .Adams^ jv.hjle kteJiwn^.igcsrdß. j^re

kept by the Secretary, Bro. J. Robertson, in his own house. The regalia, however, ■\ras destroyed, together with the charter of the Wellington District, and Court Lady Glasgow and tho Ancient Order of Shepherds also lost their regalia, which was not insured.