EXTENSIVE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 898, 29 September 1866, Page 5

EXTENSIVE FIRE.

A. fiub involving great destruction; of property, broke out last night between 11 und 12 o'clock in a block of buildings next to t'.- l0 Symonds-st. Cemetery. The houses, fouria nuinber.wefeuQoccupied, and as usual, no clue has bean ascertained t) give anyexplanatiou of the mystery. l!Ue only tiling that can be stated positivelyis that these four buildings were burnt clown in an exceo.tingly short space of tune; that a block of 'buildings belonging to Mr. Erie Craig was imqiediately al'ter-wardstotally burnt, andthat within the space of an hoar eight or nine houses were totally destroyed. Although nothing positive cmi be stated, it is said that persona were sjen i-u the houses which first took firo with a lighted cunill?, shortly before the alarui was given, aud farther that the insurance upon them was to expire to-day. Whatever may bo the worth of these rumours they at lVa>c show that a strong feeling existed amongst those who were just on the spot thut, the. firo was not tho result of cident. Tho police were, we believe, the first to give the alarm, their attention being first calttid to sniobe from the premises by a young ra,au Sanicd Isaac Edwards. At a littlo lifter ana. o'clock eijit houses were totally destroyed, msluding tha large, woikahop belonging to Mr.. Craig, which had been occupied by Mr JlcCulsktQ, The blaze of this fire was observed all over the town, the -wharf nnd principal streets so lighted, that one could see distinctly to pick up tho smallest objects. ' Wo believe the block of buildings next to the eometury belonged to c Mr. Kevell, and was insured heavily in tho Auckland Assurance Company. Certainly there is a mystery about this firo that points to some suspicion, 'Xho tiro could not have occurred

accidentally. Two o'clock a.m. Tho firo is still burning. Ten houses have been tota'ly destroyed. The wind shifted from N.E. to S.\V. during tho progress of tha fire, which extended the area of the fire. There had been an attempt by pulling down the houses on the northern eide to cut off access of the fire to the neighbouring buildings, but in consequence of the shifting of the wind thiß expedient proved to bo unavailing, and the adjoining houses were instantly firetl and consumed. The rain waa falling in a perfect deluge, tho lower parts of tho town rapidly Hooding. We understand that tho whole of the. buildings destroyed are hoavfly insured ; as fir as we. can learn for JE6&O in the Auckland, and the rest in the £onr don, Liverpool and GHobs, The Firo Brigade, bs usual, rendered incalculable servico.

ANOTHER FIRE. Scaioely had the destructive fire, the particulars' of which we have just narrated, attained its height, when another alarm of firo was given, the bells ringing through tho town ft second time. The houso iri this instance was also unoccupied, and was situated in Whito-atreet (oIF Upper Qu.een-stjreet.) Fortunately there was a flood of water running; Close along tho house, by aid of which the fire was extinguished, hut tho house is destroyed. We have not been able to ascertain the name of the owner, or whether the. property was insured. It formerly belonged to Mr. William Smith, and was rented by Mr. Scott, a milkman.