FIRE IN MELBOURNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12759, 9 January 1905, Page 7

FIRE IN MELBOURNE.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH DESTROYED.. A MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK. Mki.UOUIIXK, January 1. This afternoon Holy Trinity Church, George-street., blast Melbourne, was discovered to be. on lire. When the brigade arrived the church was alight from end to end. It could not even be determined from which quarter the lire started. The floors and pews flared up like matches. After ha.lf-an-hour's work the lire was got under control, but only the solid bluestonc walls remained. The sdioolhouse, situate 30tfc away, caught lire, but it was quickly extinguished. The residence of Mr. Pratt, M.L.C., in Hotham-strect, also caught alight from the sparks, but very little, damage was done. Other residences in the vicinity also suffered. The lire caused great consternation, as it was known that the Sunday-school was being held in the schoolroom, which was tilled with scholars. The superintendent of the school, Mr. Lawson, got the children out safely, and away from all danger, without excitement being manifested amongst them. Holy trinity- Church was a solid bluestone building, erected 36 years ago as a chapterhouse for the cathedral, which it was intended to build there. However, afterwards the present site at the corner of Swanston and Flinders Streets was preferred, and the chapter-house became the Holy Trinity Church. The present incumbent, the Rev. B. W. White, had just succeeded the Rev. Canon Sadlier. The former preached his first sermon this morning, beginning his incumbency with the New if ear. The origin of the lire cannot, be ascertained, but it appears to have been smouldering in the. building tor many boms. A watch-night service was held at the passing of the old year, and when the church was closed everything was apparently secure and safe. At this mornings service the odour of something burning was noticed, and remarked upon by two lady choristers, but failing to locale the spot from which itemanated it was thought to come from some distant source. At two o'clock in (lie afternoon the superi intendent of the Sunday-school, who was in ! church, also detected the smell of lire, but could not trace it. Shortly afterwards the ! fire must have gained sudden strength, for i a few minutes after three o'clock it was raging furiously. The church and contents were insured for £3000. divided equally 'tween the. Australian Alliance and Norwich Union Companies.