THE FIRE IN STAFFORD STREET, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4129, 15 June 1874, Page 3

THE FIRE IN STAFFORD STREET, DUNEDIN.

The following particulars of the fire which lately occurred in Stafford Street, Dunedin, arc furnished by the Daily Times : At ten minutes past eleven o’clock the alarm was given, and a dense volume of smoko rising in Stafford street, near its junction with Prances street, soon made known the whereabouts of the fire. When the bell first rang no flame was visible, but when the Brigade arrived on the spot a few minutes afterwards, a large body of flame shot out through the front windows of Mr. O. If. llcid’s large store, and almost simultaneously the Haines burst through at the back, in dangerous jiroxirnity to the promises of several shopkeepers whose places of business front Princes street. The fire bad evidently got a firm hold of the building in the centre, on the ground floor. Before the

water was properly brought to bear upon the back of the stores, the flames had reached the upper storey and were bursting out at the roof, the goods of the Alosgiel Woollen Factory Company—who occupied the first floor—having thoroughly ignited. An additional hose was now brought over the roofs of the shops iu Princes street ; and in conjunction with the Stafford street hose a large body of water was thrown upon the back of the building aud through the windows with telling effect. In a quarter of an horn* it was evident that the Fire Brigade had obtained the mastery, and that without much difficulty the fire would be con fined to a comparatively small space. The flames were beaten back from the windows both at the front and rear, and although the fire burnt fiercely iu the centre there was no fear of its spreading farther at most than the adjoining premises of Houghton and Co. The fire damaged the latter premises considerably at the rear and on the roof, but did not force its way to the front, although of course the whole building is very much wrecked. In about an hour and a half the fire was thoroughly subdued, and scarcely a sign of fire illuminated the blackened smoking premises of Alessrs. Reid and Houghton, Fortunately the night was very calm. Had the southerly wind been somewhat stronger, great difficulty would have been experienced in preserving the Union Hotel on the opposite side of Stafford-street from destruction. The new brick premises of Alurray, Roberts, and Co., adjoining Air. G. F. Reid’s store, escaped unharmed, scarcely a window "being broken. It is a somewhat curious fact, that during the last twelve months this is the second fire that has occurred on tho practice night of the Fire Brigade.