FIRES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1726, 29 March 1905, Page 52

FIRES.

OUTBREAKS IN THE CITY. PUBLIC SCHOOL BURNED DOWN. On Sunday night the Citizens of Wellington had the rather unusual experience of two fires simultaneously, one of a rather serious character, although not attended Avith any loss of life. About half-past 10 o’clock some people walking along Lambton quay obseiwed smoke issuing from the upper windows of Mr A. Berman’s hairdressing and tobacconist’s shop. The shop is part of a wooden block situated between Barrett’s Hotel and the Equitable Building and Investment Company’s premises, immediately opposite the Bank of New Zealand. On either side of Mr Berman’s establishment, and in the same building, are Lank.shear’s printing office and a Chinese fruiterer’s store, tenanted by Fook Lee and Company. The fire-alarm box at Martin’s Fountain Avas broken by a passer-by, and the brigade AA'as on the scene in a twinkling. It looked at first as if the flames had £,-t the mastery, but in fifteen minutes’ time tne outbreak Avas practically extinguished ; not, hoAVCA'er, before considerable damage Avas done to the building and the stock stored in tho three shops. The back portion of Mr Berman’s establishment Avas damaged. Lanksliear’s establishment Avas also injured, but the damage in Fook Lee’s store AA'as mainly that caused by the Avater. No estimate of the actual loss, or information as to AA'hetber the prem ises or stock Avere insured AA'as availaoie on Sunday night. There AA'as nobody in Mr Beeman’s part of the building AA'hen the outbreak occurred.

While the city brigade, aided by tho NcAA'toAA'n brigade, AA'as still busily engaged with the Lambton quay fire, the alarm AA'as given that a serious fire AA'as raging in NeAvtoAvn. A glare in the sky quickly dispelled any doubt, on the point, and a considerable section of the spectators of the first outbreak started off in the direction indicated. On reaching the Basin Reserve a mass of flame on the bill at Berhnmpore was seen to be in possession of the site previously occup : ed by the Rintoui street public school. It AA’as quite clear from the outset that nothing could sa\*e the building, and the brigade, AA'hich had been hastily summoned from the city, confined its efforts mainly to the Avork of preventing the spread of the fire to the adjoining houses. Tho oriem of the fire is a .mystery. The school. Avhich accommodated some 670 pupils of both sexes, had been unoccupied since Friday. The committee met in the head teacher’s room that evening, and the only persons aa'lio AA'ould have bad access to the building in the meantime AA'cre the cleaners, AA’ho usually did their work on Saturdays. Suburban residents, who were about to retire for the night AA'hen the alarm Avas given, flocked to the scene in large numbers, and watched the progress of the flames until the schoolhous© Avas completely demolished. The building was a Avooden one, and fell an easy prey to the flames. The loss involved, including school furniture and requisites, must run into some thousands of pounds. DUNEDIN, March 25. A fire in a packing-room situated at the rear of ButterAA'orth Bros.’ warehouse in High street, early this morning, Avholly destroyed a valuable stock of tAA'eeds and other articles. The loss is estimated at £2OOO. The building AA r as insured in the London and Lancashire Office for £SOO, and the stock in the Sun Office for £2OOO. The fire was apparently started by a tramp sleeping among the packing cases. AUCKLAND, March 25. A fire on Sentinel road, Ponsonby, destroyed a residence owned by Mrs Irwin, and occupied by Mrs Sparr. The place Avas insured in the Liverpool, London, and Globe Office for £450, and the furniture in the South British Offices for £350.