THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 121, 1 June 1901, Page 2

THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

HOW THE NEWS CAME. . The Times is in receipt of congratulations from other parts of tho colony on its being the only morning paper outside of Auckland that gave its readers a report of the Auckland fire yesterday morning. As many enquiries are being made as to how this was achieved wc may explain that Mr Gaudin, representing the Times, spoke direct from the Auckland office to a member of the Times staff, who through the courtesy of Mr J. A. Harding, proprietor of the Masonic Hotel, had “the use of the hotel instrument.

While the inmates of tho Masonic were peacefully asleep the sad news was being verbally given to a Times representative at Gisborne; it was taken in shorthand, and then transcribed for the compositors. Mr Piesse had been.on cable duty at the telegraph office, but the wires were clear and the operators had gone home, so that there was no chance of getting the news otherwise than by telephone. The first intimation to come through was communicated to Mr B. Dennington, who was on night duty at the Masonic. He was astonished, on answering tho telephone, to hear a familiar voice addressing him as Dick, and asking that a message be conveyed to the Times office. The message was promptly conveyed, Mr Dennington hailing the nightwatchman, Mr Morel!, who kindly passed the word along.