GREAT FIRE IN DURHAM-STREET AUCKLAND.

Marlborough Press, Volume IX, Issue 607, 2 September 1868, Page 4

GREAT FIRE IN DURHAM-STREET AUCKLAND.

SEVEN PERSONS SEVERELY INJURED. ESTIMATED LOSS OF PROPERTY, £14,000 (From the New Zealand Herald,. August 3.] It is long since we have had such a melancholy task as that now before us, but this morning we have to chronicle one of the-most melancholy disasters that has ever taken place in our city. A fire took place yesterday morning in one of the most populous neighborhood of Auckland, and its results have been of the most dreadful descriptions :—- About half past 6 o’clock on Sunday morning the inhabitants of Queen-street and neighborhood were startled by the dreadful-notes of the firebells. The scene of the disaster was in Durham-street East, and upon the first alarm being given the fire was discovered to be raging in the leather and saddlery warehouse belonging to Messrs Ireland Brothers. On the east side of Messrs Ireland’s store were the stores belonging to Mr J. Black, which were quite uninsured, and on the west side was the Exchange Hotel. At the rear of Messrs Ireland’s was Arthur ani Son’s auction mart, also uninsured. Messrs Ireland’s store consisted of a three-store brick building with plate-glass windows, and contained a very large quantity of imported goods, leather, &c.

The Fire had taken such complete hold of the stores before any alarm was given, that upon the arrival of the Fire Brigade, a few minutes after the bells began tolling, flames could be seen in almost all the Windows, and smoke poured out from every available opening. Mr Commissioner Naughton, with Sergeant Major Molioy, and the whole available police force was on the scene before the note of warning, and the Fire Brigade, under the command of Mr Superintendent Asher, with great rapidity adjusted their hoses from the fire-plug at the corner of Vic-toria-street, and at twenty minutes to seven were playing with very little perceptible effect upon Ireland Brothers’ store. About this time the flumes burst through the windows, the roof fell in, and the fire roared through the entire building from top to bottom. The hoses were then directed towards the brick buildings on either side of the fire and upon the walls of Mr S. Morrill’s store opposite.. The doors of Mr Arthur’s auction mart were then thrown open about seven o’clock, and it was found that portions of blazing wood from Ireland Brother’s stores had fallen through the glass skylights and had set fire to the goods in the mart. Numbers of -men immediately volunteered assistance, amongst whom were several of our leading citizens, and a large quantity of goods were successfully removed from the back part of,the store, where the fire was commencing. Mr Joseph with one of the firemen succeeded in pulling down some part of the office which was blazing, thereby considerably arresting the element [of destrqction. The roof of Messrs Arthur’s mart was of galvanized iron. At a quarter past seven a tremendous shower of hail rain, and sleet fell, which no doubt materially assisted the efforts of the firemen to get the flames under. During all this time, the way in which the hoses were worked was most creditable to Mr Superintendent Asher and the members of the Fire Brigade, who put forth their utmost energies fov' the extinguishing of the flames. Mr Stamp, in assisting to introduce the nozzle of one of the hose; into a window of Ireland Brothers store, received a bad gash in the hand, almost severing the thumb, from the glass of the window. About half-past seven o’clock the fire seemed to abate a little, and hopes began to be entertained that the worst was past The fire in Arthur’s auction rooms was well under, and the inside of Ireland's store completely gutted, so that there seemed to be nothing more for the destroyer to feed upon. Mr Joseph and his party were working a hose inside Messrs Arthur’s mart wliilst Mr Asher was superintending the play of the other in Durham-street, when the back wall of Irelaud Brothers warehouse was seen by those at the back of Mr Black’s stores to totter and fall upon the roof of Arthur’s mart. A cry of horror rose from the spectators, and at the same time cries and groans could be heard amid the crash of falling bricks and timber. There was a general rush of people to the doors of the mart in Queen-street, everyone feeling conscious that some terrible result must have followed the accident. "A party of volunteers were admitted, who, regardless of the danger from falling bricks, commenced clearing away the rubbish in order to reach the unfortunates who had been buried in the falling ruin. 'The crowd outside with bated breath watched eagerly for news of what had happened, and as one by one the injured persons were carried or supported out —some covered with blood and dust, and with faces pale with suffering—a murmur of sympathy and compassion ran through the crowd, and when a little boy was seen tenderly carried out in the arms of a man, apparently lifeless, more than one eye was dimmed with tears. The mournful procession of those carrying the injured, proceeded down Queen-street, and through the Auckland Hotel yard to the police station, whilst various persons hastened for medical assistance. Drs Kinderdine, Nicholson, anil Aicken, were very shortly at the spot, and proceeded to examine the sufferers, of which the following is a list : William Dixon, son of Mr Dixon, Chapelstreet—skull fractured, jaw fractured, thigh broken, severlv burned ; at the Provincial Hotel. Not expected to live until this morning. John Butler, of Chapel-street, book-keeper, at Phillips’ the painter and glazier, Wyndhamstreet, and captain of fire-engine—fractured skull, undergoing operations. Dangerous. William Arthur, son of Mr A. Arthur, auc-tioneer-injured spine, several cuts and bruises. Serious.

Alexander Macmillan, laborer, Durham-street —-severe scalp wound, arm injured ; at the Provincial Hospital. Serious. Richard Kearney, Wakefield-street—three scalp wounds, several contusions. Not dangerous. —Moyle, Durham-street —si alp wound and contusions. Not dangerous. 11. Joseph, auctioneer—several cuts and contusions. Not serious. > The results of this most unfortunate fire are v very serious not only as regards the injury to life’ hut also with regard to property. Messrs Ireland Brothers, who reside in Parnell, were down at the fire at 7 o’clock, but of course could only see their property destroyed, being powerless to save anything except the safe \i hich most fortunately contained the books and some valuable papers, &c This was dragged out of the door by means of the bight of a rope thrown over it, and the hoses were occasionally turned upon it by the firemen, to counteract the effect of the glowing heat of the building. Messrs Ireland estimate the loss sustained by the destruction of the building at about £15,000. The stock contained in them—mostly imported goods—was worth about £12,000. The whole of this valuable stock is utterly destroyed. The total loss of property is estimated at £14,000.

Nothing is known as to tlie origin of the fire. There can be no doubt, of course, that it broke out in the stores of Messrs Ireland Bros., and must smouldered a long, time before breaking out in the furious way it did. Messrs Ireland Bros, have offered a reward of £SO to discover the incendiary, if such lias been the case.