FIRE AT DEVONPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10414, 12 April 1897, Page 5

FIRE AT DEVONPORT.

OLD ADMIRALTY SHED BURNED DOWN. Yesterday morning at half-past four o'clock tho firebell in Victoria Road, Devonport, rang out an alarm. The scene of lire proved to be the old Admiralty shed on the recreation reserve near Victoria Wharf. In a few minutes a large crowd hfcd assembled. Some of the first arrivals got the hose reel from the fire brigade station adjacent and a couple nt firemen soon had a lead of hose playing on the burning building. Then as other members of the brigade arrived fresh leads were brought into play on the flumes, but too great a hold had been obtained on the dry timber and it was soon .seen that the building was doomed. At this juncture a detachment of men from H.M.s. Royalist, which ship is at present in tho Calliope Dock, arrived at the double with their hose reel and hand pump. They were loudly cheered as they proceeded to get to work on tho fire. It was soon seen, however, that any further efforts to savo the building would be useless, ami the detachment, having consulted with the Devouport brigade, desisted from work. The shod whs almost entirely destroyed, one end only remaining attending. The shed was built by tho Admiralty during the Waikato war of ISfti, and in it was held a ball in honour of H.K.H. Prince Alfred. Its loss, ou account of the sentiment which attaches to the building will be greatly felt by the older inhabitants of Devonport. It was bought from the naval authorities about 18 months ago by the Devonport Borough Council, when the ground on which it stands was vested in the people of Devonport. It will be remembered that at the last meeting of the Council, permission was granted to tho athletes of the marine suburb to convert the building into a public gymnasium, and subscriptions had already been raised for that purpose. The cause of the fire is unknown, but the general feeling; is one of suspicion of incendiarism. There was no combustible matter in the building, which was securely locked. The place was insured for £100 in the National office.