FIRE.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1098, 5 November 1869, Page 2

FIRE.

DESTRUCTION OP THE PREMISES OF THE HAWKE'S BAY BREWING Co. On Wednesday, soon after midnight, flames were observed suddenly to burst out at the rear of the premises occupied by the Hawke's Bay Brewing Company, Hastings street. Half an hour before, Vining, the night watchman, smelt fire and called up Mr. Hammond's son, who slept on the premises, and who made a search, saw nothing to excite suspicion, and went to bed again. The flames, when first seen, seemed to run up the back of the kiln, as if the building had been set fire to from the outside, and speedily spread with a rapidity which rendered all attempts to arrest its progress hopeless. The mass of timber was so large, that the conflagration, while it lasted, shed a vivid glare all over the island and for miles around. Fortunately, all the neighboring houses were saturated with wet, and the. danger from burning flakes was thus avoided. The fire engine was brought to the spot, but nothing effectual could be done with it, and it was not used. In half an hour or three-quarters, the extensive premises and stock of the company were reduced to a heap of ashes. The premises and stock — the latter including 800 bushels barley, a quantity of malt, ale in wood, &c. — are valued at £1300 ; and the company are covered to the extent of £650 — £400 in the Australasian (Newton, Irvine, and Co., agents,) and £250 in the Imperial (Watt Bros., agents.) Nothing is yet known as to the origin of the fire, but it is a notable fact that, some three weeks ago, an attempt to burn down the same building was discovered in time ; and suspicion, in. consequence, has been excited as to the cause in this case. An official inquiry will be held in course of a day or two.