FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 133, 3 November 1874, Page 3

FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

The following particulars of the fire at Wakefield street, Auckland, already reported by telegraph, is given by the New Zealand Herald of the 19th ult : At half-past three o'clock this morning the fire-bell situated at the junction of Queen and Wakefield streets rang out the sound of alarm, immediately followed by the one at tached to the New Zealand Insurance Build ing, and the various fire bells in and around the city speedily echoed the dread soun i. Constable Tierney, on duty in the upper part of Queen street, was the first to observe a glare of flame proceeding from the shop occupied by Mr Kemsley as a china and earthenware establishment, and at once gave the alarm. We may state that Mr Kemsley

had only recently opened in his late premises, and only some twelve months since suffered a similar loss by being burnt out at Riverhead. The ilames rapidly spread towards Rutland street, in which was situated three small cottages, the inhabitants of which, so quickly did the ilames spread, had barely time to escape, the females fleeing from their recent homes in almost a slate of nudity. A very short time was sufficient to convert the cottages into a. mass of burning debris. Meanwhile the ilames were making their way slowly but steadily up Wakefield street, and caught firm hold of the Oharlemout Hotel, kept by Mr F. Willis, which although a brick building, did not seem to stay the progress of the fire for an instant. By this time Superintendent Hughes (with an engine and a number of the Fire Brigade) was on the scene, but owing to the scarcity of water, was able to do little if anything towards saving property. However, at five minutes past four o'clock, a small jet was obtained from the stand-pipe adjoining the Dublin Boot Factory, a little further up Wakefield-street, but so weak was the force of water at command, that the united and systematic efforts of the superintendent and his men were up till this time futile. The wind being favorable for the spread of the flames up Wakefield street, the house next the hotel, which was untenanted, was the next to be engulphed in the living mass of fire. Mr Woodward, who was among the sufferers by the late fire in Queenstreet, is houseless again this morning, his premises having been four doors above the house in which the fire broke out. In a very short space of time—some thirty minutes after the alarm was first given—another house —viz., that occupied by Mr Sandal, was almost totally destroyed. It was fully half an hour after the flames had taken a secure Jhold of the buildings, before a single drop of water could be procured, and when it was obtained it was too late to save the Charlemont Hotel. At 5 a.m., the wind having by this time moderated, and there being then a copious supply of water, the flames were at length got under, at the premises last mentioned, eight houses in all having been completely destroyed.