The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1867. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 189, 14 August 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1867. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

This moruing, shortly before 6 o'clock, the inhabitants of Nelson were aroused fr.un their slumbers by an alarm of fire, and the brilliant reflection thrown up-.in the various buildings at the wpst end of the city showed that the scene of the conflagration was situated in that quarter, ;>.nd that the fkmes had already gained considerable ascendency. The pealiug of the fire bell speedily collected a large number of the inhabitants, and it. was discovered that, the store and dwelling-house occupied by Mr Askew iu Bridge-street was in flames. It appears that about a quarter to 6 o'clock Mr James Wiikie, whose store adjoins that of Mr Askew, was aroused by hearing screams proceeding from this house. He immediately got up, and look in flout of the window saw a blaze of light in the office at the rear of Mr Askew's shop. Mr Wilkie lost no time in running to the entrance of his store, and giving the alarm. He (lien returned, and attempted to throw the contents of some buts filled with water which happened to be in the yaid, over the fence separating bis premises from those of his neighbors, but found it too high, and was therefore compelled to desist from his efforts in that direction. He then went to the fr^nt, and seeing no oue in the street, again called out *' Fire," and ran to the fire bell, which he continued to riug for some minutes. By this time the flames were bursting through the back door, of Mr Askew's house, aud the entire building was so speedily enveloped that the inmates had only time to make their escape, without attempting to save any of the effects which it contained. The small engine was almost immediately on the spot, but owing to the absence of the suction-hosp, and also that so few persons were there on the spot to work it, no use could be made of it. Had this been otherwise, there is good reason to believe that the fire might have been extinguished, or its ravages at all events combined to Mr. Askew's house. The Brigade Engine, having a much longer distance to travel, was not on the grouud so speedily, but a quarter of an hour could hardly have elapsed before it made its appearance on the ground, and the members of the Brigade lost no time in g'ving evidence of their efficiency. By this time the extensive stores of Messrs. Wilkie and Son, adjoining Mr. Askew's house, had taken fire, but although every effort was made to arrest the further progress of the flaruos, not ouly by the members of the Brigade, directed by their energetic Captain, Mr Knight, but also by the large number of citizens present, who, almost without exception, exerted themselves to their utmost, it soon became evident that nolhingshort of superhuman ttgency could save them from destruction. Fortunately Mr. J. Wilkie had been enabled to remove a large quautitv of stores of various descriptions to the opposite side of the street, and these were ultimately laid up iu safety in the stores lately occupied by Mr. J. H. Levien. The store belonging to Mr. Hyam Davis, situated on the other side of Mr. Askew's house, and containing a large stock of drapery, &c, speedily caught fire, and was soon one mass of flames. The efforts of the firemen were then vigorously directed to

iusure the safety of M.r Hornby's Auction Mart, which lay in immediate coutiguily to the last mentioned store, but unfortunately, with like ill success. The building, which included a large verandah of considerable depth, burned furiously, and the destruction of the whole line of houses to the corner cf Trafalgar-street-, terminating with the old Wakatu Hotel, seemed inevitable. The wnier was kept playing on tiiis last mentioned building, and a small shanty, which formed the couneeting link between the two tenements, having been pulled down, the further ravages of the flames were stayed in that direction, and this dilapidated relic: of the "good old days'' of Nelson, which could have been far better spared than almost any of those which were destroyed on this oocasiou, still stands quite unscathed by the fuiious couflagratiou which raged in such close contiguity to it. In the opposite direction, beyond Wilkie's stores, lay two smaller houses, one occupied by Mr Black, baker, and the other beyond it by Mr Taylor, cutler. The former of these, though the roof "was completely saturated by the engines, was soon destroyed, and with the view of stopping the further progress of the fire in that direction, it was determined to p::Sl down Taylors house, which was accordingly done. This judicious step had the desired ei'fect, for although the timbers of a boarding-house, known as the Ouigo Dining Itouuit:, aiid ouly separated from Taylors house by a narrow alley, were already smoking, and the roof had repeatedly taken fire, the destructiou.of'properly was confined to the buildings which we have already enumerated. This result is not only attributable to the adoption of this decisive measure, but also to the unwearied exertions of the Fire Brigade, who really acquitted themselves admirably ou the occasion, exposing themselves without hesitation to dangers which might well have daunted more experienced firemen. So short a time did the destruction of this valuable property occupy, that before a quarter to 8 o'clock, nothing remained but a mass of smokiug ruins. It was a most fortunate circumstance, for which the Board of Works is entitled to the thanks of the community, that a plentiful supply of water was at the command of the Brigade, and but for this the progi'ess of the fire could not have arrested at the point we have described We may mention that when the fire was at its height, the houses on the opposite side of the street, including the office of this journal, aud the adjacent shops and other premises, were in great danger, the windows being broken by the intense heat, and the roofs and fronts of the buildings smoking profusely. This was noticed by Mr Slnrp, who immediately ordered the small engine (which had been rendered serviceable on the arrival of the Brigade), to play upon them, aud to this intervention, and the spirited efforts of friends aud neighbours in throwing water over them, aud giving other assistance, their preservation may be attributed. So urgent, in fact, did the danger appear, that it was deemed expedient to convey the type &c. of this paper to a place of safety, aud this fact, combined with the disturbance and the deluging of the premises consequent upon this visitation, must pi -ad our excuse for any shortcomings iu our present issue. The scene of the conflagration was thronged by spectators throughout the day, and no small curiosity was evinced by persons from the couutry, who had witnessed it from a distance to ascertain the extent of its ravages. We must not omit to mention that Mr Barraclough presented each of the members of the Fire Brigade with a ticket for his baths, and we have no doubt that many of them gladly availed themselves of his thoughtful liberality.

We find it impossible to furnish a full and accuratestatementof the risks sustained by the insurance offices, or of the amount of damage caused •by the fire, in our present issue, but we may state that Mr. Wilkie estimates the destruction of property on his premises at £5000, covered by an insurance for £3000 ; Mr. H. Davis was insured for £2000; Mr Hornby for £500 ; Mr Black for £300 ; and Me Askew being covered to the amount of £500 in the Otago Insurance Company. The amount of house property destroyed is valued at £3000, of course, irrespective of their contents. Thetota! estimated damage is £14,000, covered by insurances, £10,000, We must not conclude without repeating our sense of the efficiency which the members of the Fire Brigade displayed on this the first occasion of consequence on which their services have been called into requisition, or of the indefatigable exertions of those individuals who worked so strenuously at the engines, auJ which certainly deserve some substantial ackuowledgmeut. We are happy to state that only two instances of pilfering have been brought under our notice, and iu these cases the culprits were speedily cousignsd to durance vile by the Pulice, who also made themselves very useful on the occasion.