DESTRTUCTIVE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6827, 4 October 1883, Page 5

DESTRTUCTIVE FIRE.

HOUSES AND SHOPS DESTROYED IN

KARANGAHAPE-ROAD. At ten o'clock last night the city firebells rang out, causing a good deal of excitement, but the sudden appearance of the lurid flames from a place in close proximity to the head of Queen-street at its junction with the Karangahape-road at once fixed the locality, and in that direction people flocked in hot haste from all quarters of the city and suburbs. In a short time there were fully 5000 people assembled in the vicinity, forming a dense mass from Symonds-street to Queenstreet. There was a considerable lapse of time before the Fire Brigade arrived, owing to the eteep grade up which the ho3e reels and applian=es had to be dragged, even although cabs aided by having the reels attached. They were, however, fuither delayed through the difficulty of clearing and opening the fire-plugs to which to attach the hydrants, and in the meantime the fire which had taken fierce hold of a twostorey building, containing two shops and dwellings, the property of Mr. Belcher—was bbzing furiously, throwing sparks in all directions, and endangering property for a long distance. We may explain that the two shops referred to are only separated by one house from the corner of Liverpoolatreet, and on the other aide were only separated by a passage two feet in width from a large two-storey double house, which is also owned by Mr. Belcher, and the portion nearest the fire is occupied by Mr. Burtt aud the other by Mrs. Snell. The corner house,. a single storey building, was occupied by Mrs. Ryan as a grocery store and dwelling. It wae the shop next this, and which was occupied by Mrs. Featon, another grocer, which tuok fire, and the second shop, another grocery, was ocenpied by Mrs. Davis. Adjoining Mrs. Ryan's store on the Liverpool-street frontage, and extending back almost to Mrs. Featon'a store, is a two-storey building occupied by Mr. Hodges. By the time the hydrants and hose were in readiness most of the furniture and stock had been removed from all the houses iu the b.ock, and the two shops were a dense mass of flames, while the corner building was also burning internally and through the roof. The heat was intense. The brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, worked with great energy and gallantry. A lead from the back, and another from the front, was brought to bear on the adjacent buildings, so as to cut off and confiue the fire. This was a work of great difficulty and danger, as owing to the elevation the pressure was rather weak. Hodges' house was repeatedly on fire, and as often quenched. At length a ladder was raised against it, up which the firemen climbed, and one gallant fellow, getting on the roof with a nozzle, completely drenched it, and averted immediate danger. He was loudly cheered by the crowd assembled for his daring and cleverness. Meantime, the momentous question arose— Uould the brigade save the double building adjoining the mass of flames 1 They concentrated their efforts on the endeavour, throwing a stream of water from the back, but at length the shiDgles took fire, and for a time it seemed as if the block must go. Not yet, however. Again and again it was quenched only to break out afresh. The stream from the back could not control it, as the chimney prevented the water from playing on the part which was burning, and what was to be done 1 There was only one remedy. The fire must be fought on the roof, but no one thought the firemen could stand the intense heat. They did it, however, and the advent of a gallant fellow on the roof with a hose nozzle was greeted with enthusiastic cheering. He had to muffle his head to prevent his being scorched, but he bravely held his own and fought that fire for more than half an hour. A stream from the front came to his assistance, and finally the walls of the burning building fell in, and the danger was averted. Soon after this all that remained for the Brigade to do was to queuch the smouldering debris of what au hour previously had been three fine houses. The police, under Superintendent Thomson and Sergeant White, were present in full force, and their task in keeping back the crowd was no Blight one, but they were ably supported in their exei tions by the No. 3 company of volunteers, under Captain Isaacs. The corps, 50 strong and in uniform, had just then been dismissed from the monthly inspection parade, and at once offered their services, which were gladly accepted. The Salvage Corps, under Lieutenant Ward aleo did good service in saving and protecting goods and furniture. We also noticed Captain Mahon, of the Victoria Company, and a considerable number of members of the Naval Brigade rendering active assistance to the Salvage Corps and Fire Brigade. As already stated, the entire block of buildings, including the three shops burnt, down, were the property of Mr, Belchers That occupied by Mrs. Ryan, at the corner of Liverpool-street, was uninsured, but the other two shops were partially insured in the New Zealand Oifice for £200. The large building occupied by Mr. Burtt and Mrs. Snell was insured for £500 in the New Zealand Office. Mrs. Ryan bad hor stock and furniture insured in the National Office for £100; Mrs. Featon, in whoso place the firo originated has only been in the premises about a fortnight, and w&s, we believe, uninsured. Mrs, Davie was uninsured, and ie a serious loser, although a considerable portion of her stock and property was got out. Mr,- Burtt was uninsured, but Mrs. Snell was insured to some extent, but to what amount, and in what office, we were unable to ascertain. Mrs. Snell, who is an invalid, suffering from a epraiued ankle, had to be carried out of the house.

At an early stage of the firo a somewhat serious accident occurred to fireman Stanley. Some glass or other material Ml on hie hand, inflicting a severe gash on the joint of his thumb, but aftsr it had been dressed and bandaged by Dr. Richardson, to whom Mr. Stanley was taken by Captain Mahon, he returned to hie duty, and rendered euch assistance as he could.*