THE LATE FIRE IN VICTORIASTREET WEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7004, 29 April 1884, Page 5

THE LATE FIRE IN VICTORIASTREET WEST.

Nothino farther has transpired as to the origin of the fire in Victoria-street West, ■reported in yesterday's issue, We were unable to give the insurances on Mr. Ball's four shops (two of which are destroyed and two damaged) owing to his residing oat of town. They are, it appears, insured for £200 apiece in the Royal, thus making £800 in all on the block. An unfortunate aocident occurred to some of the members of the Fire Brigade about five o'clock in the morning.' The fire broke out afresh in the centre of the block, amongst the ■ debris, and while Superintendent Hughes, - s enior Foreman Harley, and Branchman Heaps were on a verandah getting a lead on the top of the verandah, a portion of it gave way, precipitating the last three to the ground, causing them to sustain severe injuries. Superintendent Hughes only escaped by jumping on to an adjacent verandah. Fresh hands came up to suppress the fire. Superintendent Hnghes aent for Sr. Dawson, the Brigade's hon. surgeon, who was on the ground earlier in the night, but had been called away. As Dr. Dawson was, however, found to be absent from home, a message - was despatched to Dr. Tennent, who attended without delay, and visited the wounded men at their homes. Dr. Tennent found that Senior Foreman Harley had received injury to the right side and shoulders, severe shock to the system, but that no bones were broken ; Branchman Moore, laceration and contusions on hip and injury to left elbow, but no bones broken ; Branchmam Thomas Heape, sprained ankle. Suitable remedies were applied by Dr. Tennent. The injuries sustained will confine these firemen to their homes for some days. Of course they will receive an allowance from the sick fund, but it will not compensate them for the loss they will suffer through being precluded from following their occupatioos- This is the ouly serious accident that has happened in the Brigade for the past, ten years.