FIREIN UPPER QUEEN STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5637, 10 December 1879, Page 5

FIREIN UPPER QUEEN STREET.

Av.-irr half-past 1 o'clock this morning, a ire broke out in the premises of Mr. Raf ton, bi'kftmaker. Upper Queen-street. Mr. and Mrs. Rafton, with their three children, had retired to rest several hours before the fire was discovered, but at the above hour the baby woke, and Mrs. Rafton lit a candle. She observed smoke in the room, and awoke Mr. Kafton. He went downstairs, but was nnab'.e to reach the lower floor, 'whore the fire was burning. Returning to the bedroom, he seized two of the children, and made his was into the street — the fir? not having reached to the street door—while his wife followed with the baV. He then alarmed the neighbours, and tte fire-bell at the icmction = was rung. The wife and children founi shelter at Mrs. Moller's hotel, aurt Mr. Rafton -wa* able to save some of his fancy basketwork he had near the street door. The Fere Brigade were soon on the cround, and in a little time had put an c-ul to all danger of the firs spreading sho;-next Mr. Kafton sis ccoii. ied°by Mr. Cook, saddler, but the fire d'v , si-it reach it, owing to the lower storeys bein-' -eparate 1 bv a scoria wall. Neither werJYne prerni es" of Mr. Evitt, gunmaker, on r■' other side, injured by fire. Mr. E.v: a states that he had not been working all th- afternoon in the place where the hre originated, and the only way in which ho can account for the fire is, by supposing that someone had carelessly thrown a match into his lower work-room, which is below the level of Qu=enstreet, through a broken pane in the window. Mr. Rafton's stock and furniture are insured in the Colonial office for £200. The building belongs to Mr Leif'nton, bookbinder, and is insured in the South British. There is every likelihood that bai the baby not awoke, this fire would have been accompanied with l.ss of life.