FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6590, 1 January 1883, Page 11 (Supplement)

FIRES.

A vev.y destructive fire broke out in the main street of Onehunga on the I.3th December, which resulted in the total destruction of 11 or 12 tenements, and damage to a great deal of goods and property. The first alarm was given at about half-past two a.m., but a considerable time elapsed before help was available, for there is no lire alarm, ami there is no water available-for lire purposes. The fire origiuated in the stables at the back of the Hibcrnia Hotel, kept by Mr. Tiernehan, and spread down Queen-street with great rapidity. The following arc the ascertained insurances :—Hibernia stables, New Zealand, £30 ; Oats' boot-shop, &e., New Zealand, £170 ; W. Kullcraig, shop and dwelling, South British, £250 ; James Pegler, dwe'ling and shop, South British, ' £2uo ; James Peeler, workshop, South British, £30 ; T. It, lilakey, dwelling and shops, South British, £230:. R. Niekells, house and shop, Koyal, £173 ; Mrs. A. Clarke, house, New Zealand, £2.3 ; Captain Yates, double house, Sc., Colonial,. £200 ; Temperance Hall, Robert Hawse owner, insurance, £100 in the North British and £.30 in the .South British. An outbreak of fire occurred about seven p.m. on Dee. 12 in Hobson-street, which if not cheeked in time would have been very serious. The lire bells were not rung, but a messenger was sent to the Fire Brigade station, and a detachirent, with the requisite appliances was quickly on the spot. The Hobson Hotel stands at the corner of Hobson and Victoria-streets. On the former frontage is a right of way or passage about ten feet in width between the hotel and Mr. L'ampjer's shop, and in this or adjacent to it, were a number of empty crates, cases, and straw. Some boys were playing about the place, ami it is supposed one of them threw down a match which ignitoil the straw. The eases quickly took lire, and the blaze reached to thereof. Fortunately both walls were brick, and the roofs iron and slate, and when the brigade arrived on the spot, they had little difficulty in putting out the tire, although the walls wero very mucii heated. There was a narrow escape from an extensive conflagration m the Domain on Christmas morning. At six o'clock a.m. information was brought to the keeper (Mr. Goldie) that a portion of the scrub was on tire. Upon proceeding to the spot indicated —the southern walk, next to the open—the ilix and scrub along the sides was found to be in a blaze. There was indeed a copious stream flowing by the spot, but there was no present means of lilting any of the water. The only means available was to beat the fire out with sticks. By this time several persons besides the Domain ollieials had arrived on the spot, and all set to work vigorously to get the flames under. They succeeded, but only by a great effort. As it was, a quarter of an acre of the scrub was burnt. Had the fire taken hold of an> of the taller trees it would have been impossible to save the Domain enclosure from total destruction. About eleven p.m. on December 23 the firebells rang out an alarm, but before the first signal waa given the fire had gained a

firm hold on the building, for a large blaze could be Ecen in the neighbourhood of the Tui'kish Baths, Upper Queen-street. The burning building was formerly Hollis' stables, but it had recently been purchased by Mr. John Levy, cordial manufacturer. 2he stable was empty, for Mr. Levy was not to take possession ti'l the first of the coming year. The building w.is quickly burned to the ground, Harvie s coach factory adjoining caught fire, but the flames were soon got under after the Fire Brigade arrived. Mr. Levy estimates his loss at .£7O. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it 13 supposed to have been caused by children or a smoker throwing a match o;i tile straw. The door way not locked, and haJ oniy a stone rolled against St.

The Wesleyan Church, Parneil, and all the adjoining buildings, narrowly escaped destruction Boxing Day. The stables of Mr. cmith, carrier, are only divided from the \\ s*h;_yau Church by a narrow passage. These stables are at the rear of Mr. .Smith's residence. At about two o'clock on Tuesday Mrs. \\ as]yer, who lives next door, saw smoke issuing from the stables, and after watching it fcr some time, andseeir.g nobody about, she called Mrs. Smhh's attention to the matter. On entering the stables they met a dense smo'-ie, but ascertained that the baekot tae stablesTaeiugtheW'eslcyanChureh was onfire, andthatalargeholehad boL-nburnt in it. A lew well-applied buckets of water prevented the further spread of the flames, and cheeked the spread of what might have been a very destructive lire.

Our Cambridge correspondent writes on Monday, the ISth of December This town has narrowly escaped a terrible conflagration, A burning mass of dry grass and shavings and a hag saturated with kerosene oil was discovered at the back of the stables of the Masonic Hotel on December IG, but happily was extinguished before the fire got hold of the building. Had the stables become ignited the hotel would have gone, and probably a clean sweep ot Dukestreet would have been made.

On Dee. 17, about 4- a.m. a fire broke out in a house, built in a vacant allotment oil Victoria-street, Cambridge, kept by Patrick Murphy, formerly of Hamilton, which was totally destroyed. The cause of this fire was undoubtedly accidental. Mr. Hoy lit a lire the previous night at the back of his premises in Victoria-street, qnite closc to Murphy's house, for the purpose of boiling water to scour out his shop. "The fire was supposed to have been put out, but the embers were farmed into a flame by the light breeze which sprang up in the night. The-building was uninsured. Nothing "was saved, and Murphy, who is a carpenter, lost all hia clathes and tools.