THE WELLINGTON THEATRE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9016, 31 March 1888, Page 5

THE WELLINGTON THEATRE FIRE.

[by TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Friday. The Opera House tire is shrouded in mystery. The building was discovered to be on fir? by Hoslick, the night porter at the Royal Oak Hotel, who, on opening the front doors, noticed smoke issuing through the ventilaors of the Opera House. Ho at once raj round to the Fire Brigade station ana &ve the alarm. The Brigade were quickly in the spot and soon at work, but o\\ ir.g to the southerlv gale and the strong hold the ire had of the building, nothing could be saved, and the whole place was completely gutted, nothing remaining but the bare w.lls and the charred remains of the dress aid family circle all in a heap at the rear of lie pit. the iron pillars which supported the circles alone remaining. Smith, the c.stodian, who with his family resided on tie' premises, was roused by Kitchen, toba-conist, throwing stones at the bedroom wndow. Smith rushed to the stage, and saw tire in the western side of the dress circle,but the building was full of smoke. It was with difficulty he managed to get his family out in safety. He has Tost all his effects. 3 i; . nre burned fiercely for half-an-hour, whe<. the roof and a portion of the west walls down with a terrible crash, the concuss in being so great as to knock down a qu.ntity of fancy goods in Auster s shop, causiig damage to the extent of £'20. Ihe two flint shops belonging to the Opera House, oc unied bv Williamson (oyster saloon), and Shakes "(hairdresser), are but little damared by fire, but the contents are ruined bj water. The insurances an:—South British, £1000: Colonial, £ICK) ; National, £500; Phoenix, £1 (XX); Equitaile, iot'O ; Standard, £'250 ; New Zealand, £50. The estimated loss over insurances is £0,000. At. about nine cloi'c on "Wednesday night, when the custocun made an inspection. everything was 11 right. Rumour says that two men were sen leaving by the family circle entrance a five yesterday morning, but it is doubtd, though had the men been in the thture they could leave by that entrance, ail lock the door by pulling it to after then A portion of the wall at the back of he building is dangerous, being cracked an' bulging "out. This will probably be pulled own? It is asserted that immediate steps are to be taken to rebuild the theat;-. A box of lithographs, &c., of Miss A. iy Sherwin, who was to open to-night, w,. destroyed.' Fortunately, however, her w.~drobe "had not been sent there, but was to '-o this morning.

Later. nothing has been elicited * to the origin of the tire at. the Opera louse, but it is thought to be the work of n incendiary, as the theatre has not since Friday last. ° °