DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN HEPBURN-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6269, 20 December 1881, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN HEPBURN-STREET.

At about ten minutes to 11 o'clock last night a destructive fire broke out in Hepburnstreet, which in a short time destroyed a large wooden building which was in course of erection for Captain Elliott, and seriously endangered the house of Mr. John Macky, jun., which was contiguous. When the fire-bells pealed out the alarm the fire had taken a firm hold of the premises, and in a short time the mass of timber emitted a glare which illuminated all Ponsonby and the western portion of the city. At first the general impression of those who saw the fire from the upper portion of the town was that the Orphan home was on fire. Indeed, the position, viewed from different points, was very deceptive, but the extent of the fire was unmistakeably shown by the illumination. In a very short time, considering the distance, the Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, was on the ground, with their appliances. The Salvage Corps, under Captain Butler, and the police, under Mr. Pardy, were also present very .speedily, and a large concourse of people, male and female, soon congregated to the spot from all parts of the city and suburbs. Prior to the arrival of the brigade, the neighbours and others, conspicuous amongst whom was Mr. Owen Mahon, exerted themselves strenuously to save Mr. Macky's house—upon which the sparks and ilames were blown by the wind—by means of wet blankets, and such other appliances as could be procured, and others at once set to work, somewhat needlessly as it turned out, to remove all the furniture and effects. When the Brigade arrived a stream of water was promptly applied to Mr, Macky's house, and a branch was laid on to prevent the spread of the flames. All hopes of saving the building had to be abandoned, for the fire had full possession of it, and in less than an hour from the time the fire was first discovered Captain Elliott's new building was level with the ground. Tile building, a large twostorey edifice of fourteen rooms, built on a brick base, was almost completed, but was still in the hands of the contractor, Mr. James Pooley, of Ponsonby. it was covered by a builder's risk for £1100 in the Colonial Insurance office, aud was so far completed that Captain Elliott expected to take possession in a fortnight. By 12 o'clock nothing was left standing of what had been a fine edifice, except three tall chimneys, and, to prevent accident, the Tire Brigade applied force and a long ladder, and levelled them to the ground. The Brigade worked well, and by 1 o'clock all positive danger was over, nothing remaining but to quench the embers, which still continued to show signs of fire, and to pull asunder the charred timbers, so as to prevent a further outbreak. Mr. Pooley, and the workmen employed, experience a heavy loss, inasmuch as their working .tools have been destroyed. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr. Pooley was on the building up to 6 o'clock, and states that when he left there was no sign of fire on the premises. The plumbers had been at work there for some days, but he does not think they had any fire yesterday, as they were engaged bell-hauling, and ho can in no way account for the fire. The flames appear to have been first discovered by Mr. Marter, a painter employed on the job, aud he at once gave the alarm in the neighbourhood, and it was owing to tin's that such speedy assistance was rendered iu saving Mr. Macky's house. Captain Elliott seems to he peculiarly unfortunate in respect of his new houses. About two years ago he had a large edifice erected in Pitt-street, which was almost ready for occupation when it became the scene of a large lire, and was burned to the ground, some of the neighbouring houses also suffering extensive damage.