EXTENSIVE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 899, 1 October 1866, Page 6

EXTENSIVE FIRE.

A firb involving great destruction of property, broke oat on Friday between 11 and 12 o'clock in a block of buildings next to the Symonds-sfc. Cemetery. The houses, four in number, were unoccupied, and as usual, no clue has been ascartained to give any explanation of the myßtery. Tho only thing that can be stated positively is that these four buildings were burnt down in an exceedingly short space of time; that a block of buildingsbelongingto Mr. Erio Craig was immediately afterwards totally burnt, and that wi' hin the space of an hour eight or nine houses were totally destroyed. Although nothing positive can be stated, it is said that persons wore seen in the houses which first took fire, with a lighted candle, ehortly before the alartn was given, and further that the insurance upon them was to expire to-day. Whatever may bo the worth of these rumours they at least show that a strong feeling existed amongst those who were just on the Bpot that the fire was not the result of accident. The police were, we believe, the first to give the alarm, their attention being first called to smoKe issuing from the premi<oi by a young man named Isaac Edwards. At a little after one o'clock houses were totally destroyed, including the large workshop belonging to Mr. Craig, which had been occupied by Mr. | McCulskie. The blaze of this fire was observed all over the town, the wharf and principal streets b.-injj so lighted, that one could see distinctly to pick up the smallest objects. We believe the block of buildings next to the cemetery belonged to a Mr. He veil, and was insured heavily in the Auckland Assurance Company. Certainly ihere is a mystery about this fire that points to some suspicion, i'he fire could not have occurred accidentally. Two o'clock a.m. Tho fire is still burning. Ten houses have been totally destroyed. The wind shifted from N.E. to S W. du'iog the progress of the fire, which extended the area of the fire. There had been an attempt by pulling down the houses on the northern side to cut off access of the fire to the neighbouring buildings, but in c jnsequence of the shifting of the wind this expedient proved to be unavailing, and the adjoining houses were instantly fired and consumed. The rain wan falling in a perfect deluge, the lower parts of the town rapidly flooding. We understand that the whole of the buildings destroyed are heavily insured j as far as we can learn for £600 in the Auckland, and the rest in the London, Liverpool and Globe. The Fire Brigade, as usual, rendered incalculable service. ANOTHER FIEE. Scarcely had tho destructive fire, the particulars of which wo have just narrated, attained its height, when anothor alarm of fire was given, the bells ringing through the town a second time. The house in this in-tance was also unoccupied, and was situated in White-street (off Upper Queen-street.) Fortunately th ire was a flood of water running close along the house, by aid of which the fire was extinguished, hut tho house is destroyed. We have not been able to ascertain the name of tho owner, or whether the property was insured. It formerly belonged to Mr. William Smith, and wub rented by Mr. Scott, a milkman. —Sept. 29.