DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 22 April 1881, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Between , three and four o'clock yesterday morning a destructive fire broke out "in Queen-street, which ended iu the destruction of six shops, situated to the north of the Auckland Savings B.ink, and adjacent thereto, namely, those o£ Harris, tobacconist; Mason Brothers, hairdressers ; Cole, basketmaker ; Whitehead, tob; aoonist and-bowling alley ; Coster, millinei - ; Paterson, corn store ; while that of Payne, watchmaker and jeweller, was gutted. The fire was first observed by Constable Dews, who was standing near the Thameg Hotel, conversing with a cabman named Michael Gorman, when, he perceived a column of smoke and flame shoot up into the air opposite to the Thistle Hotel. Having called on ConstableMcConnell to ring an alarm, he jumped into Gorman's cab and asked him to drive as speedily as possible to thelocality in question, iuthemeantime the two men spread the alarm as they drove along. Some distance up Queen-street they encountered Sergeant Clarke and Constable McCoraick.. Gorman, having landed the policemen opposite the Thistle Hotel, went on to the Fire Brigade staiion, to warn Superintendent Hughes, and bring, him down to the scene of the fire. In the meantime the policemen had ascertained that the fire -had commenced in some of the ontpremises attlie back of. the above-mentioned shops, apparently that of Whitehead's, and that it'was eating its way by the shop into They were, however,.unable to effect an entrance into the building. In the meantime the 'Fire Brigade under Superintendent Hughes, and the remainder of the police force under Superintendent Thomson and. Mr. Pardy arrived on the ground: By this time the fire had taken possession of the premises of Whitehead (the tobacconist), and Cole (the basketmaker), and was rapidly extending. Two leads of hose were got into work, but notwithstanding the efforts of the firemen, the fire extended to • Mason's haircutting premises. An attempt was made to save some of the. furniture and goods, but very little was saved beyond two out of the three operating chairs (which Messrs. Mason Brothers had recently imported from New York), and a mirror. A copious supply of water directed to the roof of the Savings Bank averted any threatened danger in that direction, • and shortly afterwards the framework of Mason Brothers' shop • fell in a smouldering heap alongside the Savings Bank partition wall, which has sustained some slight damage. All danger being at an' end at the southern end of the burning block, * attention was turned to the northern end, where the flames had reached Mrs. Coster's premises, and were rapidly extending along the roof of Paterson's ■ stables. Copious supplies of water were poured .on the burning mass, and shortly : afterwards the roof o£ the stable collapsed: : A determined effort was now made to arrest the progress of the conflagration at the shop of Mr. Payne, watchmaker, which seemed'. to be doomed like the rest. The Salvage Corps, under Capt. Butler, aided.by Mr. Payne and a number of his friends, gutted the shop of the goods therein which have, been saved with but slight damage. The effort was successful, and thus; three or four wooden buildings are spared till the next renovation takes place. The police rendered willing assistance alike, in keeping order; and in assisting to preserve property from damage and loss. Great credit is also due to Mr. Hughes and the Fire Brigade for their ; . There are very different statements as to where the fire originated. Messrs.. Mason had a fire in their back premises, which was used for the engine, and for furnishing hot water. They state that the fire was drawn at twenty minutes past seven aud the door shut, and as it was surrounded by iron, no fire could have arisen from that sour.ee. Some state that when the fire was first observed the body of it was at the back of Mr. Harris' shop, while., others say it was further down. It is quite certain that it was burning at the back for some time before it was noticed in the street. Sergt. Clarke had only passed down Lome-street a few minutes previously to the outbreak, but neither felt nor saw anything to indicate that anything was burning. The following are the insurances :—Harris' buildings—South British, £200; and stock, Colonial, £600; Whitehead's stock—Northern, £100; and United, £100; two bowling alleys, and ssts of bowls, also insured in the Norwich Union, £100 ; Mason Brothers' building and contend—South British, £600 (which covers about half their loss); Paterson's stock—Colonial,- £600 ; Mrs. Coster— Colonial, £100 ; Payne's stock (ail saved) — South British, £200 ; Dunne, Hall, and Co. 's stock—Union, £400 ; Colonial, £300. It is expected about £5 will cover the damage in the last case. The New Zealand and South. British have each a policy on the Savings Bank for £1000, but the damage is only trifling. Mr. Cole's position seems to be one of the most unfortunate. He was wholly uninsured, and estimates his lose at £300. Mr. ColehadinsuredintheVictoria Company for the last eighteen years for £160, but in September last the Inspector had paid Auckland a visit, and deeming this place a dangerous spot a renewal of his policy was refused. This refusal Mr. Cole felt keenly after insuring so long in the one office, and did not make application to_ any other company to accept a risk upon his stock. Several times during the continuance of the fire, a number of dilapidated buildings midway between Queen and Lome streets were on fire, and detachments of the Fire Brigade had to be sent to extinguish these incipient fires. The roofs of these buildings are in a very unbecoming condition, and the eity authorities should see that they are not allowed to remain, as they are a source of danger to adjoining properties. They should either be pulled down or roofed with iron. In their present, condition they are unserviceable to their owners. -.