FIRE IN FREEMANS. BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8964, 31 January 1888, Page 5

FIRE IN FREEMANS. BAY.

THREE HOUSES BURNT.

About half-past; twelve this morning a fire broke out in Spring-street,' freeman's Bay, in the middle house of a block of three twostoreyed gabled buildings, the centre one of which was bui nt to the ground, while tho adjoining two were completely gutted. The dwelling in which the outbreak occurred, as well as the adjacent one at the corner of Spring-street find Alma Place, are the property of Mr. Archibald Anderson, engineer, who resides in one, while the other is occupied by his mother and a Mr. and Mrs. Scott. Last night the only person in Mr. Anderson's house was his son David, a young man of about 20, who is quite at a loss to explain the origin of tho tire. He states that he had a tire in the diningroom during the evening and cooked some supper, but left nothing but a few asnes which might have been smouldering when he went to bed. lie was awakened by the smoke, and when he got up tho house was in flames. He endeavoured to get out and threw up tho window for that purpose, but was choked by the dense smoke, and fell forward into the room, but was subsequently rescued by Mr. Dilley, who had been aroused. Owing to the absense of his parents in the Waikato, he was unable to give any particulars concerning the insurance upon his father's houses. The other dwelling was in occupation of Mr. Clues, who was totally uninsured, and lost considerably, athough the bulk of his furniture as well as that of Mr. Anderson, sen., was got out. The owner of Mr. Clues's house is Mr. Traye?, of the North Shore, and wo could not learn if he were insured. Tho fire was first noticed by Messrs. Knight and F. Jones, who were returning homo from an excursion to Te Aroha. They ran to the scene, roused the neighbours, and rendered assistance in removing tho furniture, etc. The Ponsonby Fire Brigade were early upon the scene, and soon had a lead of hose playing on the burning building. They were speedily assisted ny the City Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, while •the police, who mustered strongly under Sergeant Pratt, and the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, were very useful in saving property. A contingent of tho fire brigade of H.M. s. Opal also came to the lire, bub were too late to be of any great use. The grocery shop of Mr. Waring, which is opposite the houses destroyed, caught fire at the caves and was somewhat scorched, but beyond this the flames were confined to tho buildings mentioned.