FIRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8163, 27 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

FIRES.

FIRE OX THE ARAWA.

At 1.15 a.m. on January 5 a fire was discovered on board Messrs. Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company's tine steamer Arawa, now loading at Queen's Wharf, Wellington, for London, with frozen mutton and wool.

lb appears that at the hour mentioned the engineer on the watch saw flames issuing from tho grating at the foot of the engineroom storeroom, which is situated between the engineroom and stokehole. The ship's crew were called without delay, and all the pumping gear brought into use. The tiro must have had a fair hold whon discovered, as for a time it appeared to be gaining rapidly, and the flames spread to the room overhead in which the steering gear is fixed, and tho glare could also be seen at the mouth of the ventilators on tho upper deck. Tho crew, who are periodically exercised at lire-extinguishing, worked splendidly, and aided with a plentiful supply of water succeeded in confining the tiro to the room in which it broke out, although the woodwork of the fore part of the engineroom is somewhat scorched, as is tho roomabove the store room. Almost the whole of the woodwork in the store roum is burnt or charred, and it shows that for some time there must have been a considerable body of lire there. Tho damage, however, is not very large, nor is it likely to delay tho vessel's departure. Captain Stuart, who was on deck immediately the alarm sounded, states that when he opened the door leading into the engine room the smoke was so dense as to almost suffocate him, and he pays a high tribute to the crew for the speedy manner in which they got the lire under. Abutting on the store room, and almost alongside where the fire appears to have raged most fiercely, were two large tanks containing oil (used in the engine room), and Captain Stuart was anxious lost they might explode. Had they done so, he says " nothing could have saved the ship." The local brigade and wharf watchmen were quickly on the spot, but the fire was extinguished by the crow without their assistance.

FATAL FIRE IN OTAGO. Intelligence has been received at Dunodin that by the burning down of a hut atPukoteraki, near Waikouaiti, a Maori woman and two of her children were burned to death. Their names are Sabina, Louisa, and Madaline Ashwell. George Ashwell, father ofthe family, was brought into Dunedin Hospital severely burnt, and has since diod from his injuries. At the inquest on the Ashwell family, held on January 3, a verdict of "Accidentally burned " was returned. It appeared that Ashwell, senior, and his wife got out of the burning building, but rushed into the building again to rescue the children. The wife was (located, and her body, was carried out by her husband, who was fearfully burned. George Ashwell, a boy, saved his youngest sister by jumping out of a window with her. An eight-roomed house, owned and occupied by Mr. J. D. Morrison, cutter, of Te Aro House, Wellington, was destroyed by fire at one a.m. on the 4th of January. Everything was destroyed, Mr. Morrison escaping in his nightdress. The family was absent at Dunedin. The building was insured for £300 in the Guardian Office. The origin of the fire is unknown. Mr. Thos. Hunter's residence, Mangapai, was burned down on January 1, while the family wero enjoying their Now Year's dinner with spine frionds. The roof was ignited by a spark from the chimney. Shortly before 9 p.m. on January 11 the firebclls rang out an alarm. Tho fire proved to be in a six roomed cottage, occupied by Mr. \V. J. Houston, in Canada-street. The firemen were successful in confining the lire to the houso in which ib broke out, though the roof of Mr. Green's house (occupied by Mr. Darnells) on the upper side was nearly destroyed, and the end of Mr. Burns' house (occupied by Mr. Rewca: tie) on the lower side, was partly damaged. As to the origin of tho fire nothing is known. The insurances are: Mr. Houston's furniture, £75 in the New Zealand Insurance Company; the building was owned by Mr. Wrigley, builder, and is insured for £150 in same company. Mr. Green's two houses are insured for £450 in the Colonial; furniture uninsured. Mr. Daniells had his furniture insured for £70 in New Zealand.

The railway station at Fairlie Creek, Canterbury, was destroyed by fire on the 13th January with all the contents, including the iron safe.

The Haxmill at Newstead, near Hamilton, owned by Messrs. Reynolds, Steel, and Reed, was burned down about five o'clock on Friday afternoon, the 17th January. On the 20th January Mr. Appleby, dairyman, of Mount Albert, had a haystack burned down, valued at £80. The fire is believed to be the result of incendiarism, or of gome tramp smoking while taking shelter for the night in the hay.. Mr. Appleby had no insurance. A fire broke out at Mr. T. Walker's flax mill, Mangahoi.Waiknto, at half-past twelve p. m. on Jan. 20. The building and some portions of the machinery wero destroyed, but the engine was saved. , A telegram from Invercargill on the 23rd January states : The Lowther Hotel on the Kingston line was destroyed by fire on the 22nd January. Nothing was saved with the exception of a sewing machine. Mr. Malono, the proprietor, was at Invercargill at the time, his wife was out visiting, and the maidservant was in the garden, so that the origin of the fire is unknown. The house was an old one, and whether insured is nob yeb known.