FIRE IN BAKER-STREET.

New Zealander, Volume XXIV, Issue 2613, 21 March 1866, Page 3

FIRE IN BAKER-STREET.

■FIVE HOUSES TOTALLY DESTROIEt). Anotiil'u destructive fire occurred in Auckland about half-past four o’clock on Saturday morning last ; the premises consumed on this occasion being all private dwelling-houses, five in number, situate in a small thoroughfare named Baker-street, running from Nelson-rtrcet to Freeman’s Bay. The fire appears first to have been discovered by constable O’Sullivan, who bas thus reported to Mr. Commissioner Naughton on the subject;—“ About halfpast 4 o’clock this morning, I was on duty in Drake-street, when my attention was drawn to a sudden illumination in a house in Baker-street, and owned by a person name 1 J. K. Gilbert, piano-player. A man named Hugh Harkins, whom I ohal-

lenged for sauntering about at that hour of the morning, also perceived the glare at the same time, I took Harkins with me to the place where the (ire existed, and found that it had taken fast hold of the house, which was unoccupied. On going rounds to the front, I saw a man named John Fleming, of the Military Train, standing apparently watching the fire, about two or three yards distant, i when up to him, questioned him as to where ho resided, and he told me that he lived in the Albert Barracks. I then asked him what he had been doing, and he replied that he had been sleeping between the house on fire and the adjacent one, and had been intoxicated the night before. 1 examined his clothes, and found that the back of his coat and the seat of his troupers were covered with mud. I brought him a prisoner to the policestation, wiih the assistance of constable Hayes.” The alarm of the occurrence of fire having speedily been given by the ringing of several of the fire-hells in the city, the police, members of the fire brigade, and a large number of persons resident n-ar the spot, were quickly on the ground, and effective measures were taken to prevent the spread of the destroying element for any great distance. By direction of Mr. Xaughton, Commissioner of Police, a small house standing on the brow of the hill on the cast side, and forming the connecting link from the premises apparently doomed to destruction and a long line of houses running up Baker-street, was raised from the piles and upset into the fire. By this moans, although the weather-boards of the adjoining houses were greatly charred, the fire was prevented spreading in that direction. The police and fire-brigade then proceeded to the west side of the burning mass, and, directing their efforts to the saving of a building (sonneted with another block, were happily successful, by the use of a judicious and plentiful supply of water, in keeping the fire within the block in which it had commenced. There was no fire ! ■engine on the spot. The fire is believed to have nrV'mife I in an empty house: only two out of the five houses being occupied— [ one by a widow named Mrs. Fisher, and the other by persons named Kelly. The i man Fleming, apprehended by P. C ! O'Sullivan, was released from custody I during the course of Saturday.