FIRE IN WELLRSLEY-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7552, 3 February 1886, Page 5

FIRE IN WELLRSLEY-STREET.

At twenty minutes to three o'clock this morning the firebell at the Fire Brigade Station rang out an alarm, quickly followed by the New Zealand Ineuranco Company's bell at the Exchange. As no glare or smoke was perceptible, there was 4ome! difficulty at first in locating the fire. It proved to be at the premises of Mr. Ed"ward Payne, confectioner, nearly opposite thfe 'Opera House. Wellesley-etreet. When the' Fire Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, got on the ground it was seen that the fire was in the basement, and wae rapidly spreading to the shop and sittingroom. A lead of hose was got in from the street hydrant through the back door into the basement, and the splendid supply of water speedily crushed out the fire, though not until damage had been done to the goods in the basement and ground floor to the extent of nearly £100.

\ JThe origin of the fire is rather obscure, The basement is in two divisions, the rear portion, a sort of kitchen, containing a gas stove for cooking, and the front portion, in which, tho fire originated, being used as a storeroom, and contained sugar, essential oils, &c. Mr. Payne had not been well and, bad gone early to bed, and Mrs. Payne, after being done with the gas stove in the back room, had seen that everything was safe before retiring. Tho alarm wan first given by the servant girl, Miss McWard, who was awakened by a feeling of suffocation through the smoke coming into her bedroom upstairs, after which she fainted. Mr. Payne endeavoured to get downstairs, but way driven back by the smoke, and had to get out by the upper window to the verandah, and thence to the street, seeing previously to the safety of his family and of the servant girl. Some men passing gave the alarm at the Fire Brigade Station. The stock-in-trade and fixtures were insured for £375 in the New Zealand insurance Company. The building was very little damaged. Mr. Payne can throw no light on tho origin of the fire. Constable White was early on the ground and made the necessary investigation, but succeeded in getting no fresh light on the affair,