FIRES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 932, 10 January 1890, Page 13

FIRES.

An outbreak of fire occurred at the Pier Hotel on January 3, but fortunately it was discovered in its incipiency, and was extingnished before any great damage was caused. About a quarter past 8 Constable F. Moore, who was on duty on the Wharf, observed a blaze in one of the upstair rooms. He immediately ran over to the hotel and gave the alarm, after which he proceeded upstairs, and on entering the front sitting, room he found the curtains on fire. The officer instantly pulled down the burning curtains and trampled the fire out, and with the assistance of a mat beat out the flames, which had spread to the ceiling. A few buckets of water sufficed to completely extinguish the fire. The constable wai assisted in putting the fire out by a man named Louis Hague, who is employed at the hotel. One of the windows was opened, and it is supposed that the fire was caused by the curtains being blown against the gas jets, which are fixed on each Bide of the window, An alarm was given by the firebells, and the Brigade promptly attended, but their services were not needed, aa the fire was extinguished before their arrival. The damage done was trifling, but had it not been for the prompt action of Constable Moore a serious fire would probably have occurred. Shortly after 1 am on January 4th a vigorous alarm of fire was given by the city bells, and the reflection of a large fire was in the sky. It broke out in the eight-roomed house owned and occupied by Mr J. D. Morrison, in Bid well-street, off Upper Taranaki-street. Mr Morrison, who was alone in the house, his wife and family being on a visit to Dunedin, states that he retired to bed about 11 o’clock, and was soon asleep, A little before 1 o’clock he was awakened by a suffocating sensation, and found his bedroom full of smoke. He at once rushed out of doors and found that the house was well on fire. The alarm was given from the Mannersstreet bell some 10 minutes after the flames were issuing from the building, but this is accounted for by the night-watchman mistaking the blaze for a gorse fire on the adjacent hills. It may be stated that Mr Morrison’s house occupied a very elevated and isolated position. As soon as he found matters serious. Mr Morrison, who had not had time to dreos, rushed back to his bedroom in the hope of saving a ‘valuable gold watch and his month’s salary, both of which were in his bedroom ; but the fire was too fierce, and he had to beat a retreat, minus his valuables, getting his face scorched and his hands burned in the attempt. The Brigade were as soon as possible on the spot, but owing to the height of the locality the pressure of water was very weak. The house and its contents were completely destroyed. Mr Morrison values his furniture at about £2OO. Both it and the house are insured, but Mr Morrison is unaware to what extent or in what office, as his wife had the entire management of those matters, Mr Morrison, who is a cutter in the tailoring department of Te Aro House, will be a great loser by the fire, as he has lately spent a considerable amount of money on improvements in his house, and he had to escape in his nightdress. The origin of the fire is at present unknown. Later. In addition to over £2O in notes, Mr Morrison lost jewellery to the value of about £7O, which includes a valuable gold watch and chain of his own, an old silver watch, a gold watch and chain belonging

to his wife, a gold Maltese cross, a gold Louis d’Or piece valued at about £5, and a diamond breast pin. Most of the jewellery was kept in a small box on the top of a marble washstand in the bedroom, and Mr Morrison’s gold watch was left iu his vest pocKet, which he hung id the hall before retiring to rests When he discovered his room full of smoko he had to jump from the window, and, although he made a plucky attemptto re-enter, the flames prevented him, so that he had no opportunity of Maving a single article. When the debris ot the house had cooled down after the fire, he obtained the services of a youDg man, who fortunately had had some experience in gold mining, to search for any portion of the jewellery which had escaped the fire. After a long search, the young mam found what appeared to be a blackened nugget of gold about the size of a pio’s head. From his past experience, he knew it was gold directly be discovered it. This led to a keener search, and soon afterward several other lumps of gold were found together, with Mr Morrison's gold hunting watch, the cover of which was briken away, the glass face melted, and the dial discoloured by smoke. The hands had stopped at exactly 1 o'clock, possibly when the flames had reached it. The heavy curb chain attaohed to the watch and the long neck chain of Mrs Morrison’s watch had got fused by tho intense heat into a series of curiously shaped rugged nuggets, blackened with smoke. The gold Maltese oroas had lost all semblanoe of its former shape, and had probably decreased in weight. All that remains of the silver watch is a battered portion of its outer case. The diamend pin has not yet been restored to Mr Morrison, hut as a regular gang of youngsters were busy at work all day on Saturday scraping over the debris, it is probable that some ot them may have found the remains of it. Mr Morrißon brought to this office on Sunday night the melancholy looking remains of his collection of jewellery. A fire occurred at Newtowo on Monday morning in a stable in Donald McLean-street belonging to a milkman named R. G, Holliday. In addition to the destruction of the stable, a valuable horse and a set of harness were burned. Tho fire was discovered by Mr Holliday, and he gave an alarm which brought out the Newtown Fire Brigade, but the fire had attained too strong a hold, and the men wore unable to save either the stable or its contents. Mr Holliday estimates his loss at £22 10s. There was no insurance, and the origin of the fire is not known. On January sth about 1.20 am the firebells gave out another alarm of fire, and a large number of people made a keen scrutiny of the city to see where the fire was located, but neither glare nor smoke was visible. The fire was, however, disoovered to be on board the s.s, A raws, lying alongside one of the tecs of the Queen's Wharf ; and the first alarm was given on tho ship’s bell by Quartermaster Dudley. Constable Doyle, who was on duty on the wharf, immediately communicated by telephone to the Mannersstreet Fire Erigace Station, and the Brigade were soon on their way to the Beene of the calamity. In (he meanwhile Constable Doyle, assisted by the wharf nlgbtwatchman, got the Harbour Board hose and reel into position alongside the vessel. The Brigade had by this time arrived, and quickly all danger was at an end. It appears that the fire broke out in a storeroom adjoining the engine room. The police asked the quartermaster for some explanation as to the origin or extent of the lire, but the officer refused to give any information until he had consulted Captain Stuart. That gentleman with the chief engineer was duly interviewed, but both declined to give any explanation. It is very probable that greasy cotton waste is in some way connected with the outbreak, It was fortunate that the fire was so soon discovered. As it is, very little damage has been done. Mr Hart, Acting-Collector of Customs, has held a preliminary inquiry into the circumstances, and the evidence has been forwarded to the Commissioner of Customs, It throws no new light on the origin of the fire.