FIRE IN CUSTOM HOUSESTREET WEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6004, 14 February 1881, Page 5

FIRE IN CUSTOM HOUSESTREET WEST.

Shortly after nine o'clock on Saturdaynight . a glare of fire was observed in the vicinity of: the Gas Works, and in a few; moments the various city firebells, as well as that of St. Patrick's Cathedral, began to ring out an alarm. The fire proved to be in a two-storey building belonging to Messrs. Carr and Sons, m Custom House-street West. The Fire Brigade, under. Superintendent Huehes, were promptly on the spot, as well as the Salvage Corps, and the police, and though not successful in saving the premises in which the fire originated, saved the resi-, dence of Mr. G. Carr adjoining, which was but slightly damaged. Messrs. Carr used the top story for storing boat-building materials, &c., and had let the basemeut for blacksmith's purposes to Messrs. Cleaver and' Bennett. The latter firm had built two blacksmiths' forges, and put into the building the necessary.plant for carrying on their business, which had only been in operation for a fortnight. They were about to take th« upper story also, so that it could be fitted up as a residence for one of the partners. It appears that no fire was used in the premises after four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, when a drill was repaired, and the Hot ashes carefully extinguished with.; water.' The first to discover the fire was Mr. G. Carr, who resides on the adjoining allotment, and whose attention was attracted to the building by the roaring noise of the flames going up the basement walls, but the fire had then got too great a hold upon the building for any efforts, on the spot to be of service in-extinguishing it. Mr. Cleaver states that the building was securely locked up, but the key was placed on a shelf inside, through a broken pane. It is, possible that this fact beeame known to other parties, and thus access was obtained to the premises. We regret to state that Messrs. Carr and Son's loss will be about £200, not a penny of which is covered by insurance. Messrs. Cleaver and Bennett, in addition to their expense in fitting up the building for the purposes of their trade, also lose all their tools and stock-in-trade, and 'are similarly'uninsured. As they were just commencing business for themselves, the fire has proved a great misfortune to them.