FIRE IN CUSTOMS-STREET WEST:

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7268, 5 March 1885, Page 5

FIRE IN CUSTOMS-STREET WEST:

About three o'clock yesterday afternoon the fire-belle rang out an alarm, and the columns of smoke which speedily arose at the foot of Albert-street showed that the fire wae in Mr. Thomas Inglis's block of buildings. The fire broke out in the building occupied by Mr. Ready, fishmonger, and in the upper story where the smoking apparatus was situate. In this storey was also stacked some £300 worth of cane, belonging to Mr. Thoniae Cole, basketmaker. The fire burned very fiercely owing to the quantity of combustible matter in the npper storey, and the Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, did not get it suppressed till the building was gutted. The Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, some of the Naval Artillery, under Captain Leßoy and Lieutenant Mnith, and the police under Sergeant Pratt, also rendered assistance. The origin of the fire is shrouded in some mystery. The custodian of the fieh-curing establishment, John Lambert, states that the fire in the smoking apparatus was put out in the forenoon, aad that he was downstairs at the outbreak of the fire. On ruthing upstairs he found the bundles of cane on fire, and he ivas unable to go to his room and •ecure his watch and effects. Mr. Cole's son and a boy named Irvine, are said to have been upstairs an hour previouely, getting some bundles of cane, but they can throw no light on the origin of the fire. Messrs. Thomas Cole and Inglis were about the first to see the fire, as they were standing opposite the Waitemata Hotel at the time, and Mr. Cole remarked that there was more amoke coming from the building than should occur in smoking fieh. They gave the alarm at once. Mr. Cole had been atoriug cane in the building, and he estimates his loss at £300, none of which is covered by insurance. Mr. Inglis has a policy of £300 in the Colonial Insurance Company, but as it is on the whole block of buildings, including the foundry, he will be a considerable loeer.