FIRE IN UPPER QUEENSTREET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12759, 9 January 1905, Page 5

FIRE IN UPPER QUEENSTREET.

OWI'LLIXO-HOUSE AND CONTENTS | PARTIALLY DESTROY]-!). A KtNT.-ROOMCT) dwelling-house in Ppper Queen-street occupied by Mr. Constandiue K. Melville, restaurant-keeper, and owned by Mr. das. Pair, was partially destroyed by fire on Saturday night. The outbreak was discovered by Mr. 1). E. Brown, who gave the alarm through the electric alarm service, and hie fire brigade, under Superintendent Wcolley, turned out promptly. The five had already a good hold, and. though brought under control in quick time, two of Hie back rooms, the staircase, and a portion of the roof were destroyed, the balance of the damage to the building being due to heat and smoke. Tho furniture suffered to the extent of about £-10. The Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, together with others, saved a huge proportion of the furniture, including a piano, beds and beddinar, stretchers, and a number of other articles. 'Cue building is of wood, in two storeys, with iron roof. At the time of tho live there was nobody in th-- house, Mr. Melville having removed his family to the restaurant in Queen-street over the holiday season, though he himself was in the habit of going home at night after business, and sleeping on the premises. Between seven and eight o'clock on Saturday night Mr. Melville sent a lad named Nicholas Yaneo to the house on an errand, and he states that he was only in the kitchen a few moments, after which he locked the house up again, and returned to the restaurant, there being then no sign of lire. While in I lies Kitchen he used r candle, which he put out on leafing. The damage to the. building is set down at between £200 and £300. It is believed to have been covered by insurance, but the amount and office holding the risk could not be ascertained yesterday. The furniture and effects were insured in the National Office for £120,