FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7480, 9 November 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRES.

THE WAI ; iARAl 1 A OX FIRE. A great sens'iti was caused when the Wairarapa steamed into the Giaborne Bay about six a.m. on Sunday, .Nov. 1, and den« e volumes of smoke were seen issuing torn about a third of the length of .the amidships. The steamer came unnsually cl.iPe to the shore, sounding signals of distress with the whistle. Immediately the anchor was dropped, tb» ship's boats were lowered, and crowds r,f passengers were seen getting into them. The steamer tender, NoLco, went off immediate!? and assisted in getting out the passenger and all were landed on the beach in safety, many, however, with only vervseantv clothing, and some with only bedclothes wrapped around them. There were aliout ICO passengers for here, Auckland, and Sydney ; aud, on arrival on shore, they were taken in 'buses and cabs to the various hotels. Boats went off from the shore t.i the vessel, which lay about half a mile distant. Smoke continued to belch out in dense masses, On arrival on board it was found thai; all hands wcro straining every nerve to subdue the firj. The (lie engine was working at its hardest, and buckets were being used over the side. THE FIRST ALARM. The Wairarapa left Napier at half-psst nine on Saturday night, and came along under steam as usual, to arrive at daylight. The night was beautifully calm and due. Ab a: four on Sunday morning, just at daylight, when a few miles south of Nick's Head, thi alarm of lire was raised, and all the passenger) were awakened with the utmost expedition. As some of the cabins were already filled with smoke, several passengers were nearly suffocated before they could esc*pe. All hurried on deck through the smoke and t!amc», taking what clothes and effects they could catch up. All remained on deck till tae steamer's arrival in the bay. Meantime all the crew had turned to their allotted stations under Ciptain Chattieid and Chief Officer Anderson to combat the lire. It was found that the fire had originated in a linen closet. From there it spread along to the ladies' cabin. Toe fire had a pretty good hold vrhfn discovered, and despite the utmost efforts to subdue it, it travelled aft, and spread the whole width of the ship. It worked throuch into the hold, and to the upper deck, into the kitchen and rooms adjacent, and up through the ventilators. The plates ou botii sides of the vessel got red hot, and the paint dropped oif. The iron ventilators also got rod hot. A number of tire extinguishers and hand-grenades were taken off from the shore to assist. Fighting with the fire wss kept up with unabated energy until a quarter to nine, when the chief officer reported that it had been got und*r, and there was no fear of the loss of the ship. As soon as the fire was subdued, the crew began to clear away 'die debris, end to imp water out of the ship, and a band-engine was sent off from the shore t't as-ist. Tne deck presented a j>reat scene of confusion, luggag-, furniture, life-belts, aud bedding, being strewed everywhere. Captain Chattield states that the* men all worked splendidly, and the passengers say the greatest order and good discipline were shown. There was not much excitement or fear shown by the passengers, the shore being so near, and being daylight, home ladies, however, were greatly alarmed for r time. THE WAIRARAPA. The Wairarapa, which may he said to he a new vessel, was cue of thelinest of the Union Company's flvet. She is < f 17SG ton* gross and 10*23 tou3 net register, with engines of 292 horse-power. Her length is -65 feet, beam 315 feet 3 inches, and depth of Mold £!.! feet 7 inches. She was built of steel by Denny Brothers, in ISS2, at their works at Dumbarton, and was fitted throughout with the electric light. It will be remembered she was selected to ruu the two excursion trips last year to ihe islands of the south Pacific. The Wairarapa is a sister vessel to the Manapouri. C.VKGO OF lONIC. 5 boxes, Partridge and Woollam*; Ijj packages, Seeguer, Laugguih, a'lrt Co.; - cases, John Kilien ; 3 cases, W. C DenneS; G cases, Trenwith ; lease, FI. K. Hytt;l case, H. H. Granger ; 1 bale, Mbourne Drapery Company ; cases, D. K. (Talbraitl'; 2 packages, Baber and Rawlings; 5 package?, M. Levy aud Co.; 8 packages, G. Gibson; 11 cases, Murray and Spencer : 148 cases, 1and A. Isaacs ; 1 case, H. Brett; (3 cases, J. Richardson ; 1 case, J. R. Gray; 1 case, Airs. Brackenbury ; 2 trunks, G. ..ewis: cases, Bradley and Craven ; 1 case, Smith and Caughey ; 1 case, Winks and liall; b cases, H. White; 1 case, Cope; 2 eases, S. Coombes ; 10 packages, E. Porter and Co.; 1 case, W. J. highley ; 7 cases, P. Haying and Co; 25 coils rope, S. S. Osborne; lj' cases, F. J. Wimble ; 3 cases, C'ruickshsuk and Co.; 2 cases, Phillipps and Sons; 4J packages, Sarjjood, Ewon, and Co.; b ' packages, Sharland; 1 case, Donald and Edenuorough ; 2 cases, Sheraßros.; 4H phages, Kempthorne, I'rosser, and Co.; packages, Clark and Sons; 1 trunk. Garrett' 1 case, Brooks ; 3 trunk's, Klliaon; 1 trunks YVe.stpfahl ; 13 packages, Thornton, Smith, and Firth; 13 packages Owen and Graham; 1 bale, Lennox; ■> packages, A. H. .Nathan; 43 package Macky, Logan, Steea and Co.; 1 CJS „ C ' Bartlett; 4 cases, D. H. WcKer.zie; •'/ packages, Shera aud Co.; 4 packages, S. "• Hill; 5 packages, S. W. Jones ; 6 packace-S Broomball and Co. ; 4 packages, G. ) .ewis. 25 packages, Parkor, Green, and Co.; package, Mackay ; 6 packages, J. Roberta and Co.; 7 packages, Potter and Co.;' packages, Grosvenor and Co.; 1 case, Cook> 5 packages, W. Rattray; 5 eases, Up ton and (Jo. ; 750 packages, Railway DtiC®' ment; 3 packages, Barber; 2 eases, C. Plummor; 4 packages, Owen and Graham. 1 case, J. McCarroll; 7 packages, Coates . 22 packages, L. D. Nathan and Co.! package, Boylan and Tnnfield; 23 eases. Coupland and Co.; 1 case, D. Beer; , packages, W. McArthur and Co.; 14p* L ' ages, G. 0. Griffiths ; and cargo consign to order under various marks. THE INSniMNCKS. The Wairarapa is insured for £51.000, o. which £19,000 is in London aud £12, '

colonial offices, and the company'a own risk is £20,000. AKP-kivat- AT AUCKLAND. Upon its being known that the Union 'pauy's steamahip Wairarapa was to como nn to this port to land her cargo, passengery, i-■ the greatest curiosity was evinced. Oa'tho vessel rounding the North Head at .bout two p.m., on Tuesday no perceptible '(lilTercnoe could be seen in the appearance of the well-kuown steamship, and it was not until she reached close alongside the whart that it could bo discerned that sue had been in trouble. The scorched sides f tJjy vessel amidships", the smoke-stained mint of the sides of the cilices quarter.), the blistered condition of one of the ivats on tan I,ol'tside, and the burnt skylights of tlnnmjinermm &c., however, told only too piainly yV the ordeal that she had pa : ed throng!. ' Upon reaching the main deck one com I at once see that there was something wrong. The hitherto yacht-like kept vessel was in a tato of comparative disorder. Descending the saloon companion Hie disorder w.is the more apparent, arid with it the visitor met ttie and stillini: smell m-uidiy lett liv smoke after a li r e. Under t',lo guidance of one of the < 'era of the vessel _an inspection was made of the scene of the lire, t'u> start being made from the foot of the saloon companion, working towards the after part of the vessel by too starboard alleyway. On the right hand side is the spirit an.i stoic room, which had evidently felt tho fierceness of the tire, but it had been oaved trom destruction by a plentile.l supply of water forced into it from an opening made at the top of the companion staircase. Opposite 'to the spirit room is the chief ard's room, and hero is at en the first of tho real damage done by the lire. From this room, proceed. along the. alleyway, tho whole of the sleeping berths, bathrooms and water-closets have been wholly destroyed, nothing remaining but a mass of charred wood and rubbish, the opposite side of this alleyway is composed of the casing of tha vessel s boilers. 1 hey are of iron, sheathed with wood, having between tho two a coating of some two Inches of cotton waste, used to keep the place cool. The whole of the woodwork and cotton waste was burned away, whilst the iron plates had been heated to an almost white heat, an 1 they were considerably bent ami warped about. At the end of tho boiler space, the visiter comes to au open space, in which is lifted the linen locker, a small t,tore-room, it.v, and into which the lift from the kitchen descended, Hero it was that the lire originated, but as to exactly where it smarted accounts appear to be somewhat competing —some asserting that it originated in the linen looker, and others in the small storeroom, or what is known as a boots'-room. However, hero the lire rased with the greatest fury, and consequently, the largest amount of damago was done—tho decks being greatly burnedand it was from here that the tiro reached to the mam deck, and on up to ths hurricane deck. Passing along ate we come to the engine-room easing, which, like that round the boiler space, is also of iron, and so the engines were saved. In this part of the ship the destruction was most complete, she being completely gutted. Vrocee iing back to the starting point (th > foot of the saloon companion), an inspection can then be made of the other side of the ship. Parsing through the ladies' cabin, which is almost wholly destroyed by both fire and water, we come to the ladies' private and sleeping apartinfiits, which, with the rest of this si ie of the vessel, is wholly gutted as far aft as the iron bulkhead. As up.m the other side, thi-; select the engine-room is also protected witn an iron casing, and so the tire in this direction was prevented from reaching the room named. Returning to the main deck we find that on both sides of the alleyway from the kitchen aft, the cabins and unices have been all more or less destroyed, while the kitchen, bakehouse, etc., had to stand the full force of the tire, and they have suffered severely, nothing remaining but the ironwork. "From the above it will be understood that the lire was eonlined on board within the space between the entrance to the main saloon in the 'tween decks to the bulkhead at the fore part of the main hold, in other words, it has destroyed about one-fourth of the midship portion ot the steamship. The saloon has been but slightly damaged from water, and the other paits of tho vessel have escaped uninjured. THE OI'TBKEAK. The accounts which have so far reached us have been so collecting that we give the following account obtained fn-m the oilicers and other sources on board on the arrival of the steamer on Tuesday afternoon At about twenty-five minutes past four o'clock on Sunday, the vessel being then nine miles to the northward of Table Cape, the man on the watch i.i the cabin reported to Mr. Downio, the chief ofll:er— who was on watch on the bridge—that the vessel was on tire, and the order was at once given to raise the alarm. The captain, the ciiicers, and all hands, were instantly summoned. Orders were given to the stewards to waken the passengers with the least possible excitement. '1 his was done, and everybody called in the most considerate way, and in a manner the least calculated to cause alarm in the circumstances. .Several passengers were incredulous, but when fully awake, and realising tue circumstances, they lost no time in getting up. Others, however, who were quartered clone to the scene of the lire were not at all in doubt, and had no time to lose, l heir rooms-' were already full of smoke, and tiie had to Srizfl what they could, and get out with the utmost celerity. The ladies were the worst otf in this respect, as the tire started quite cl.se to their cabins. They wen in the most immediate danger, 'limy could in some eases take but very little clothing, indeed tome of them could do nothing more than wrap the bed-clothes around them an 1 hurry out. In some case?, however, a little clothing was seized, and brought to them immediately afterwards. Most of the male passengers had time enough to get on some clothes ; iudeed, some a':ted with deliberation and took everything, while others, located nearer the tire, could take b;,t very scanty attire. However, all managed to get out and on deck, and disposed themselves as comfortably as possible under the eircuinataaces. In rescuing the ladies, two or three ladies were hurt, but not merely. In oue instance the second stewardess was burnt whilst crossing the passage down which she had proceeded to see if all the children were out of tie; nursery. Mrs. Boordman also fell two or three times in her ellorts to escape, she being partially stifled by tha thick volumes of smoke that were pouring through the cabin. A Mrs. Allison, an invalid, bad to he carried out of her cabin and on to the deck. FIGHTIKO THE FIRE. All the passengers agree in praising the coolness and self • possession displayed by all, from Captain Chatfield down, to the boys, anil the captain himpelf speaks in the highest terms of the behaviour of the oli::era and men. Every ellort was made to resist the progress of the tire. Rumps were got to Work, and ■water passed down in buckets, while the donkey engine was set going to drive the pumps in a very few minutes. Despite all that could be done, however, the tiro spread rapidly. It could not be played ou direct at first, and in consequence of the blinding smoke water could only be poured down the ventilators and other openings in a haphazard way. The decks were kept flooded to confine the lire as much as possible, and every exertion was made to keep it from spreading, and especially to keep it away from the engines, machinery, spirit room, and from getting into the hold, hut despite all that could he done the tire spread the full width of the ship t 11 her outer sides became for a large space on each side red hot, the paint, of course, dropping otf. Flames shot up through the wooden skylights, and burnt alio through the iron ventilators frmn the main deck, which became red hot, When at < iisbarne work w&s commenced from the outside by playing the nozzles through the ports into the vessel. Noon after this course was adopted it became evident that the fire might possibly be mastered. The cause of thefire is unknown,but by some it is believed that one of the pipes connected with the engines must have heated the woodwork till it ignited. It was also suggested that a match dropped among the htiuti on the previous evening might have caused it to smoulder. To assist in putting Out the fire several hand chemical machines were brought into me, besides a. number of hand grenades brought off at Gisbornc. THE CAIUiO. It has been found that the cargo is uninjured by lire, and only slightly by water. The engines and machinery were not injured, engines and machinery were not injured, but the connections of tho steam stearing gear were destroyed, as was also the electric lijjht apparatus. The Wairarapa had on hoard &S0 tons of cargo, of which 500 tons for Auckland, 65 tons for Sydney, aud 15 tous for Kub3ull.

LOSSES, Tho following passengers are tho heaviest losers by tho fire :—Kev. dither Ahem, who lost £ I 'JO in cash and the wholo of his clothing. Tho Rev. T. L. Stanley and his son lost a parse of sovereigns, watcher, and almost all of their clothing. Mr. Stanley was bound to Sydney en routo home. Mr. Martin lust clothing and jewellery; Mr. Council (of the Perpetual Tnutets' Company) deeds, clothing, &e. ; Mr. llill nearly all his clothing. Aliases Gray and Mrs. Boordman aro also heavy losers of clothing and jewellery, whilst Mrs. Keano and son lost everything. Mrs. and Miss Martin also lost clothing. Other passengers were also heavy losers. A quantity ot the remains of watches, &c., was found completely fused together. TUT: .vrour.-i. Almost tho whole of the ship'.i stores are destroyed by either lire or water. Immediately on arrival the work of cleaning the store-room was commenced, and it was then found that the loss was a most serious one. Wines aud spirits were lost, whilst the provisions were rendered unlit for use, Tho linen was also very much destroyed by fire. si'i-'rii:. The Wairarapa had on board the following spi'cie ;—Twelve boxes containing £.>O,OOO worth of gold from Dunedin, Nelson, and 1 lc.kitika. ° Of that .CoG.k) is for Sydney, .t'20,000 for Sail l'Yane.sco, and tho root for Auckland. is.-r::crio.v. At about four o'clock ou Tuesday Captain Clayton, Lloyd's Surveyor, and Captain Wursp, Surveyor to the Underwriters' Association, made an inspection, under the guidance of Captain Cliatlioki, ot the damage done. NAKUVTIVE* oi' Tin; I'AScKNI; Vlt<. From interviews held with several of the passtmge'3, we find that the accounts given by tho utiiccrs as to the outbreak of the lire, agree substantially with these given by the onlookers. Captain Rowan, of Melbourne, gives the / following account of the affair — 1 was a saloon passenger from Daueuiu, On Sunday morning, ab.iiit foil': o'clock, was awoke by a craculmg uoise, while slei ping in berth next bath;ooui. After listening tor a moment- — only bait awake, and thinking that it it worn tire crackling so loud 1 must nave heard the alarm — I smelt umoke. Immediate sprang ou; of my berth. On coming out ot my cabin door into too alleyway 1 was met by a strong tongue of tl mho snooting d.,>wii Uoin the staircase leading to toe cook's galley. 1 could hear voices, and exclamations of "The ship's Oil lire 1" through the passage from the port aide, where the ladies' cabins wore ; but on starboard side there was no stir nor alarm. This made me go along the passage to give the alarm to the other passengers, and getting into the saloon, 1 lona.i the ladies coming out of the ladies' calna in various stages of dishabille. king in at the door of the ladies' cabin, I saw dense volumes of smoke coming from the alleyway, r.n.i tigiiivs m wane struggling out to.rough it. I til. went m to see what I could do to help them, and, hearing smothered exclamations up toe alleyway, pushed oil as far as I could,. \\ hen about to return, feeling half choked f.n-d suffocated, 1 caught sight el some tig a re rugging in the smote, mod laid hold of it, bringing the person out, when it proved to be toe second steward.os. Endeavoured to go hj.ok, fearing that some other Women io.j.,ut be cut od by the smoke and ft line, Lilt only cucceeiied m getting in a little way. and had to return, the smoke being overpowering. 'i neu endeavoured to return to my own cabin to save some i.'.ects, out found it hopeless. I went forward to rouse up passengers in tore cart,of vessel. Some of the younger passengers laughed, and thought a practical joke wan being played upon mem. i'recceee.l on deck and toad the stewards were forming a chain with buckets, liiiiug water from the captain's batnroom, and passing it down below. Helped here for a shore time till the chain was completely formed, and then went on the iipier deck. '1 no Chicot's and crew were all working steadily in dilioreut gangs, in getting the coats ready, ami at the tiooe ) playing oil the seat oi the lire ; and I was much impressed with tho cooln.ss of Captain Chatfielvl, and the discipline and go.» 1 ordei that prevailed among the crew. nils the crew were thus engaged, the passengers had been coming up the lorward stairs, and Mr. .Martin, ot luvereargill, and otlteis Went down repeatedly fur blankets to put round the lanes and children, who were shivering in their night • dresses l>y this time tho vessel was about seven or eight ir.ile3 from the coastline and the vessel steaming full speed. Toe pas.se;.gei a anxiously watched the smoke issuing, winch was the only .duo obtainable as to the progress of tne I'ame-u. 1 occasionally went below, and found the liillerent gangs of tne crew in the dui'ereiit allt-y-waya hard at woik lighting tne lire, ami judging livai their appearance weio sunering c.n.uderabiy from the smoke an t heat. i no pa-i* seng.>rs were not able to <pv; much .stance, simply owing to the fact that the snip's company auiticed to liii the space available, and that they would have be. ii really more in tho way than anything else ; and although ready and willing to go to wor<: when called on. Owing to tne ll uncs being so strong, and the tire having apparently attaineu. so much head way when I was lust aroused, it was absolutely impossible for me to make an attempt to examine where the tire might have originated. 1 considered my lit at uuty was to rouse my fellow pas--era. x oo" tel.". Tne folio.vine: a'ldresses were prf -'Onied by the pas J *-r. ::er.i to Captain Cnati'.eld fi'uortly before the arrival of the vessel on inn day : — S. Wair.ir .oe.'ovciube- ':o ' '.-ip'oioi fi.-iir-.'1.1, tl.e- ollic-rd, -te-v.anlj. v <1 v w ..f tee s ». a<.;arip«, VVt, tiia «n- ■ •i!■•.- l • ilo -n ]>i s "oiiiie*s. • iesltß 10 ,:X].r'!V' :.r h;<| re. i,ill < f l!:.: rcacici ■) < i : .i; ire , ;ie.i i.i tie; itiwgy » rl <1.:,•.:{.).!■« (iiv.ilayul il,;ri.i;, r t!;e in. !• ' i::iat.> lie } sle.il.y ne ruii.;-, to i 'i. . 1 -n■ ■ r \e . .i -.ii-t iiOirhi 7i v u than '-V'-ryo'ie r-*p:.ir ..'I to his allotted {> :).t with ai.-icrif/. We w-ra <inr.v!lv«1ir.e.1.1,' i:it" en'.'i!ii.'i..-o.'o. ,- , ■. ril t > enable u to ap;..;e'-:-»to th'.- e;mn.,;.' .iirl i., .'."11;. ,lr)iv:. t.y t: •: .ui.'ietr.i in ftickii.i; t-> tr<-;r ••"•u.?, »:.d I>» ' '* : ..Mi :er>. .'eew'.ir■! , '.ml ere.v in ti.eir ]) nti-a-ttml | •Uteris t'-> eve i'|j iv. ti:e i'k.s, F-.elin;,' cruteiiil as we i, |. bivinf! I'rov.ii -nee fie- our ■■se.ip'i from an .■em.e rnaerl e.e-iOy ,o rJI, v.'e 0.-Ore to pli.ee mi leeeril our oimii' ii tie.. ha 1 th■: van 'i 1 « d 1.- .s-. ii'nv tit. nil" i aiei eu-.nrii.iue, i !, t.i" re..it wool., in all rof.-iniitj, i; .vt ti. . b very tl.lfeo ut. In jnelusieu. w.j irn-t ye will ciL'-eutour lueirti - tlioi'ict (or In: vi iu'h s"rv;<:;< widen ive 'n-un leoi' d ton-:, ■:rrl our ii-st liithui f -r ttii; well ire of 'lei tt'./vm. - !li' jr.-, ?nils, ariS crew of the 11. W'^irai»j> •.. — psii'i.e.l l.y ail tii-pv«.r u ■■■.)' T 1 C-pOii.i i il .tt'i.-al. t'ie ( l!:--«rs, and c - ; n w of tte S.S. Wairariii-a —Noveinii r . V> e. liie ltiel- Is:gni,i'l lif.coinl cabin p^s.soiir.s. »'ln;.-.t n-;;re ini; the sol c-vta«tr('j>he which has «.i:nurro.l on boar.) tt.is v. •«;! frjin tho lire which broKa out on iiml-iy nnii'iiinc, do-.irn to nipr- ss our ii'lmiratliin of tin; courage ami discipline diinUveil by youraolf. your eflieerj, mid crew m their < Herts to subdue thu fi.uiijs *• d secure ilie comfort and saftly of ill" pun n.:ers. We Jiope yon may long be spared to enjoy the command of sue a line vessel as tins, and tint you may always have tho good fortur.o to see your orders carried cut with sueh promiiMede ami fcarleju.ie.'ia in was displayed by those tinder your authority on this occasion.— (..SbucJ by all the pasanij/ers ) R lit'A IKS. The Wairarapa is to leave hero for Dunediu for repairs as .soon as she has put out her cargo for here and for Sydney. Tim cost of repairs is estimated to exceed £5(101). It had boon arranged that an enquiry into the fire on hoard should have been held before Mr. T. Hill, Collector of Customs here, but instructions were received that the oliioial enquiry was to be held in Dunedin. During i the 4th aud sth November the work of j putting out the was carried on, wtiioh lias been landed in very good order. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT W HANGAR EI. J Rf.twekn two and three a.m. on November 4 a most disastrous fire broke out here, totally destroying the fine block of buildings, known us the. Exchange Buildings, the property of Mr. Caller, and the Post Office. These buildings are situated at tho junction of Cameron and Rank streets, and are occupied by Mr. G. C. Walker, draper, grocer, and general storepeeper, and as odices by .M ess re. Hughes, George, and Moadirian, solicitors. Although tho firebell quickly gave the alarm, and a great number of willing hands were quickly on the spot, the progress of the flames was so«rapid that nothing could be saved in the Exchange Buildings. At the I'ost Ofliee all the instruments were saved, and telegraphic communication was established by noon, Mr. Storey, thu indefatigable postmaster, having got the temporary use of the County Council Chambers, a building near the lo3t Office site. The heat wan so intense that the glass in the Advocate otlice and the Rank of Now Zealand opposite was broken. The bank, the largo block of buildings occupied by Mr. Marshall, Mr. L! .rrison, Mr. Pearson, Mr. Hanson, the Advocate otlice, Mr. Mann, Mr. Bradley, and Mr. Williams were in great peril. The insurances are ;—Victoria : Building, £000 ; Walker's stock, £750 ; fittings, shop, £00. Imperial : stock, £400. Tho risk of the Victoria, £1400, was re-insured £050 in tho New Zealand. Mr. Walker is a great loser,

Not only was he not half covered, but it will tend to interfere with his trade with the Maoris during the sitting of the Native Land Court here, just opened. He has however, with his customary vigour, taken premises, and will at ouco recommence business. No clue to tho origin of the tiro has as yet been obtained. Mr. Steadman left his ollices between four and five the previous evening, and Mr. Walker aud all his assistants also left at Bix o'clock. No light or tire was. therefore, ou tho promises previous to the tire. A live-roomed house at Mornington, Otago, owned and occupied by Joseph Newson, was burned down on October 30. Tho house and furniture was insured for £150 in the Northern t liiee. On the lU .t October a flve-rooincd house at I'Vndalton, Canterbury, belonging to Miss Dearwin, and occupied by Stewart, a bank clerk, was burned down through tho upsetting of a kerosene lamp. It is supposed to ho insured in the Northern Otlice. Stewart's furniture is insured in that ollice for £101). for several hours on Nov. 2 a large glare was observed in the direction of Kemuera. On enquiry, it proved to be a quantity of old trees and rubbish burning briskly near to tho Orakei Kuad, beyond Remucra. It was at its Height about nine o'clock p.m. A fire occurred at four a.m. on the 'JGth Oct. at \\ ellington, in a store in Buckle-street owned by Mr. IVebb, grocer, and used by him for the storage of bulk merehaudi-c, which er.vo a fair opportunity for testing the (llijacy of Hardi n's lire grenades. Before , the arrival of the tiro brigade, r» girl in Mr. Webb's service being aroused by the bell saw the tiro through a window, and at ouco apprised Mr. Webt>, who hurried to the place with a number of llarden's lire grenades. The Mew Zealand Times of the ll it'll ult. gives the sequel: —"A low of the grenades were thrown into the dames, tho ellcct produced quito astonishing everybody. The lb nun were so subdued in a moment that . the weak points could bo easily discovered, and a hose kept on the premises was brought to play on tho places where tho tiro 'had taken the greatest hold. Ei.'ht of the grenades were missing, but so far*an could he seen, only three of them had been broken. The Kite Brigade did not arrive for sonic little time, and Mr. ebb was of opinion that the .ire could have been put out without their assistance, as there was scarcely any wind blowing at tho time. Superintendent White! .ml not being of the name opinion, ordered his men to ply their hose till all traces of the tire were extinguished. As a result, the stock has been much more damaged by the water than bylire." A fire occurred on the 14th October in To Awamutu, which swept away the large store of Messrs. Ronnie »-nd Co. The building is owned by Mr. R. P. 'tDull'us, and is erected on ground leased from the Church Mission Society. Tho building was insured for i'HoO in the "Royal in favour of the agent of the Church Mission Society, and Messrs. Reiinie and C i.'o stock was insured for £400 in the New Zealand Ofli and £700 in the Colonial. This latter sum is largely di'iiinishi'd by re-insurances, i-'J'V.i being in the Standard no jJ'J.'iO in the Equitable. tin October -- a tiro broke out in the stables of .Mr. A. .1. Edmonds, Brown-street, I'onsonby. The stabks had been partly | rented to Mr. J. Rcnwick. Tho stables were \ not of much value, and were burned down before the Fire Rrigado reached tho spot. So far as is known the tiro wan accidental, and a quantity of horse iced was destroyed along with tho building, over which was an insurance for £50 in the Standard. Shortly before rive a.m. on October It! tho lire bells rang out an alarm, anil it was soon ascertained tuat the tiro was raging on board the p.a. Black Diamond, moored alongside the breastwork, and close to the dock. It appears that about the hour named the Harbour Board night watchman (Watts) had taken otf Captain Fisher to tho barque < 'oroniiia, and when coming »3hore he noticed amoko issuing from the steamer named, and he at once notitiud Captain Fisher of the occurrence, and at the mmo time pulled to tiie s s. Clansman, just then arrived from i.'ii3sell, for assistance. Captain Farquhar with a pait of his crew, immediately went to tho burning vessel and with Captain Fisher used their host endeavours to suppress the tire, which had by this time obtained a good hold of the vessel in the midship section. A good supply of water, by liucket3, was obtained, ami the tiro was soon mastered. In the meanwhile Captain Fisher had pro- j ceeded into the cabin of the steamer, and taere found Captain McLeod, the master of ttia steamer, in au almost suffocated s ate. Wit assistance Captain McLeod wr.s brought on deck, where he speedily revived, lie afterwards lent valuable aid towards the suppression of the lire. An inspection of the steamer shows that the liro has done damage to the extent of about £10, principally to the bridge, bridge-house, etc., of the vessel. The machinery is uninjured. The steamer is insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for £500. 'lhe origin of tiie tiro is unknown. The house of Mr. Richard Finn, Wairoa South, was burnt down ou October '_\S, at three p.m. Tile house was a ten-roomed oue. It is insured for £'JOO, but Mr. Han estimates hia loss at £750. Mr, and Mrs. inn have lout everything but the clothes that they stand in. The residence of the Hon. Capt. G. B. .Morris, M.L.C., Tiunanga, was totally do.,troy ed by fire, together with the furniture and an outhouse, at about half-past (.•; :i a.m. oil tile 'Joth of October. \\ hen discovered the fire had a good hold on the roof, and as there was no water handy nothing could be done towards saving it. It is supposed to have been caused through «parks alighting oil the roof. Insurances : Building, £_'!)(); furniture, £100, in the New Zealand «'liiee. The loss is estimated at about £ 1 O.JO. Captain Motrin is a Wellington da.:ie,er(iu;dy ill, and Mm. Morris is there attending him. Universal regret is expressed Here tor them in their severe loss. A cry of lire was raised at Te Awamutu on November 0, winch caused a good deal of excitement 111 the township. Mr. Gwyno'a gong was rung, and a crowd quickly collected, out it was found to he a false alarm. It turned out to be merely tho amusement of soma children burning furze bush. A telegram has been received from Whangarei stating that the residence of Mr. Scott, of Kuatangata, was burned down on Tnursday night, nothing being saved. The building was insured, but the amount ia not known. Nothing has been ascertained as to the origin of tiio lire. Air. McNaughton, a schoolmaster, who was lodging at Mr. Scott's, loses furniture and clothing.