FIRE IN QUEEN-STREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11679, 14 June 1901, Page 5

FIRE IN QUEEN-STREET.

A fire broke out in the premises of Mr. Laud, pork butcher. Queen-street (adjacent to the premises of the Tonson Garlick Company), about a-quarter past seven o'clock last night. It appears that Mr. Laud and an assistant named Rainbow were on the premises at. the time, the shop being open for business. A movable gas jet in the back kitchen seems to have been the origin of the fire, through accidentally swinging against the wall, which ignited, and thence the fire rapidly spread. As «con as Mr. Laud discovered the fire he sent Rainbow to ring the firebell at Grey-street, and himself endeavoured to suppress the flames by using buckets of water, but unavailinglj, as the fire soon mounted towards the second storey. When the alarm was given the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, were the first on tile ground. Through some delay in getting the alarm the tire brigade, for some reason or other, were last to arrive on the ground, the Salvage Corps tiahting the tire with buckets of water till the brigade drove up. The brigade, however, soon got to work, and in a few minutes the fire was in hand, and was prevented from spreading to the extensive premises of the Tonson Garlick Company, next door. About £200 worth of damage was done, more by water than lire. Mr. Laid was insured in the New Zealand Company lor £100 on the building and £200 on the stock.