DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN HOBSON-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7259, 23 February 1885, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN HOBSON-STREET.

WORKSHOP AND DWELLINGHOUSE DESTROYED. . About twenty minutes past three o'clock this morning a fire was discovered on the premises known as the Lyceum Hall, Hobson-street, now occupied as a workshop by Messrs. Peters and Heizod, , cabinetmakers. The fire was discovered by two men who were in the vicinity at that time, and who noticed smoke and flames issuing from the rear of the building, that portion used as a workshop, goods being kept in the front part. They state that almost immediately before discovering the fire, they saw two men as if going away from the building, but they paid no particular attention to their movements, and it was only on the fire breaking out that the circumstance was particularly called to their mind. An alarm was at once given, but owing to the highly inflammable nature of the contents of the building, the fire mad* rapid progress, and by the time the Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, arrived on the scene, the building was a mass of flames, the heat from which was so intense as to render any near approach to the building on the part of the firemen, almost impossible. Some delay too occurred by reason of the use of the new nozzle, the peculiarity of which is to spread the water. This nozzle did not seem to act well, and the old nozzles, concentrating the volume of water had to be resorted to, and with such good effect that the fire was speedily brought under subjection. The building was entirely destroyed along with its contents, and a dwelling house adjoining was almost entirely burnt to the ground. Thishouse was occupied by Mr. Hampton and his wife and family, and son .in-law. They were awakened by a stone being thrown through the glass panels of the front door, and on getting up discovered that the house was on fire, and had no time to save anything, with the exception of a few articles easily caught hold of. Indeed, some of them escaped with nothing but their nightdresses. Both the buildings were the property of Mr. T. Foley, and had been leased by him to Mr. T. Webb, pianoforte dealer, who had Bub-let them—the Lyceum Hall to Peters and Heizod, and the dwelling house to Mr. Hampton. The former was insured by Mr. Foley for £500, and £209 in the South British, and £300 in the Fire Association; and the dwelling-house for £200 in the South British. The occupants of the hall were insured for the stock in the Colonial for £200, and Mr. Hampton had his furniture insured for £100 in the New Zealand.