FIRE IN GRAHAM-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6096, 1 June 1881, Page 5

FIRE IN GRAHAM-STREET.

About ten minutes before 2 o'clock this morning an alarm of fire was given by the night ■watchman (McLaren) at the Auckland Timber Company's mills, who observed a glare of fire proceeding from a house situated on the top of the cliff at the foot of Graham-street. McLaren at once rang the bell of the mill, and the note was taken up by the city firebells. The fire had originated in an ont-building of a four-roomed house belonging to the late Mr. T. G. Shepherd, formerly of Auckland, but who died about a year ago in Tasmania. It was rented and occupied by Mr. Anderson, of the Metropolitan Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson sometimes slept there and sometimes at the hotel. Last night, they remained at the hotel, and the only inmates of the house were the servant, nurse, and. children. The servant was awakened by a crackling noise, and on going out found that the coal in the apartment at the back of the outer kitchen fireplace was on fire. The blaze speedily communicated to tlie kitchen, and thence along the covered way to the main building, which consisted of four rooms, facing seaward. The woman called to the neighbours, and aid was speedily at hand. The children were got out and taken to a neighbouring house, and most of the furniture was also taken out of the room. The fire brigade were promptly on the spot, and a column of water was put on, which soon extinguished the fire. The main building is pretty well charred and gutted, and the outer kitchen, with coal-house and covered way, are completely destroyed. Mr. R. Bartley is agent for the late owner, and we learn that the property is insured in the Victoria office for £300. Mrs. Shepherd, who had been .appointed sole executrix under under the will, arrived from Tasmania about a fortnight ago, to make final disposition with regard to the property.