FIRES IN WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7997, 31 January 1887, Page 2

FIRES IN WELLINGTON.

THE LATE EIRE AT AREOWSUITH’S. The following is a list of insurances on the buildings and stock destroyed by the fire on Lambton-qnay on Saturday morning : Lindsay’s building—Equitable, JL4OO; Victoria, L 200; Union, L 200: South British, L2OO, Stock—Colonial, L7OO (of which L2OO is re. insuredin|thoNow Zealand); Guardian, 17500; Standard, L 500; National, L3OO (of which Ll5O is reinsured in the London and Lancashire), Fixtures, L2OO, and plant, L2OO, Victoria, Total, L 3400. Arrowsmith Stock, L 400; furniture, LSO, Northern. Scott Bros.—Building, LSOO, and , stock, LIOOO, Colonial. Total, LIBOO, on which reinsurances are effected as follow London and Lancashire, LSOO ; New Zealand, LSOO; Liverpool, London, and Globe, LSOO; Equitable, L 125 ; North British and Mercantile, L 123. Total insurances, L 5650.

It appears that Mr E. Holloway, manager of the Lambton-qnay branch of the Wellington Meat Co.’s shops, who occupied one of the upstairs rooms in Mr Lindsay’s premises, had a very narrow escape from suffocation, He was awoke by a stifling sensation caused by the room being fnU of smoke. He immediately, got np, and finding the place on fire, attempted to escape by the window, which, however, he could not open for some time. He only sue. ceeded in getting to the verandah as his senses began to leave him. Mr Holloway lost about £9O in wardrobe, &c. t his watch being the only thing of any value that he managed to - save. He had been to the Theatre the previous evening, and in passing through the shop-on his way to his room saw no indication of fire.

The origin of the fire appears to be a mystery. Mr Arrowsmith asserts that he retired to bed ahont 10.30 the previous night, his assistant (Mr McMorrav) retiring about the same time. About 3 a.m. the latter roused his euqliyer by saying that there was a noise m Mr Lindsay's shop ts of boots falling ou t.io floor. Mr Arrowsmith got up immei diatcly, and on opening the door which

divides the kitchen from the shop was met by a dense cloud of smoke, and in a very short .space of time the place was in flames. MrArrowsmith is of opinion that the lire broke out in Mr Lindsay’s, as be is positive that he,saw the flames, hurst,through the partition dividing tljp two. phops. ■ Mrs Uur. field, who resides in a house iq >yooawiqrastreet, expresses herself as being certain that the Are immediately after it broke out was confined to Mr Arrowsmith’s, Mr Arrowsmith lost the whole of his account books and about £IOO in money, including a cheque for £69, drawn by the head of one of the Government departments. Those who were the first to break into the premises state that the fire was then confined to Arrowsmith’s. . , On Saturday stock-taking was carried on at Mr Arrowsmith’s, and wo understand that the damage done to the stock is estimated at about LI 50.

FIRE AT HAS ELL & CO.’S GRAIN STOKE.

INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED. Hardly twenty-four hours had elapsed from the time of the outbreak of fire at Arrowsmith’s fruit shop before another alarm was given, the fire signals again denoting Lambton Ward as the scene of the occurrence, It appears that Constable Gleeson, who was on duty on Lambton Quay about twenty minutes past one yesterday morning, was standing in Groy-street with Sergea.nl Eoady when he saw the reflection of fire (which it afterward appeared had been caused through the fire shining through a skylight in the tool) coming apparently from the back of Messrs Arthur Hasell and Co. a Auction Mart and warehouse, next to the Star Hotel. The constable immediately ran across the street and found that the back portion of the premises was on lire. He at once alarmed the inmates of the Star Hotel, and then knocked loudly at the front door of Mr Pringle’s art needlework depot, bat, however, did not succeed in waking him, for Mr Pringle was not aware of the lire till the bells rang. Constable Gleeson had in the meantime proceeded to the big fire bell and rang out an alarm which was quickly taken up by the Manners and Bran-don-street stations. He i ©turned to the burning building, and with the assistance of Mr C. Bishop broke open the front door of the shop, and discovered that the fire had a firm hold in the back store, whore alarge quantity of flax, tow, grain, &0., was stored. In the meantime, Mr Pringle, having been awakened by the bells,, had removed his wife and little girl to Hyland’s Hotel, and then returned and commenced playing with a small hose kept on the premises, upon Mr Hasell’s store at a point in the roof where the flames threatened to burst through and ignite his own premises. Very shortly after the first alarm the Brandou-street reel was on the scene, bat a short delay was experienced in getting water owing to the fire-plug opposite HoseU’a being choked with mud. Water was then obtained from the hydrant opposite the New Zealand Insurance office, and two etreams were quickly playing on the flames. By the time these two hoses wore in operation, Captain Pago, with the Manners-street contingent of the brigade arrived, and another strong delivery of water was obtained from the pillar near the Union Bank* One jet was playing in the shop, while tho others were used on the-roof and back store- The firs was now burning very fiercely and fast obtaining A strong hold, the flax and other inflammable articles in the building having become fully ignited. Fortunately, there was a good supply of water available, and the rapid progress of tho fire was checked. ' About this time tho Hill-street reel, drawn by three civilians, arrived on the scene. Another hose was connected with the pillar alongside the Press oflfee, making the fourth, although only three streams of water were used at one time on the fire. The fire traversed irom the back to the first floor, and thence burst through the- roof with great fury, tho flames shooting high in the air. Grave apprehensions were felt that the fire had gained tho mastery, and that the Star Hotel would ignite, and the whole block ha swept away. The brigade, however, worked well and soon gained the advantage of the flames- From this point it was evident that unless something unforeseen happened, tho brigade would confine tho fire - to HaaeU’s store. Several times the para. ~ pet and roof burnt with renewed energy, but the flames were quickly subdued. About an hoar after the alarm was given, the firemen had the fire well under control, and all danger of it opreading to the adjoining buildings was averted. The building in which the fire commenced was completely gutted, and its contents destroyed by fire or water, principally the. former. From the ’ time the alum was given, Mr Knight, licensee of the Star Hotel, had a small hose playing on tho roof of HaseU’a store from one of the upper story windows, which did considerabla service in cooling tho heated roof, and preventing an outbreak ■in that direction. A very small portion of the hotel was scorched at the back, ,bnt nothing to apeak of. Invaluable assistance was lent by Mr A. Wbiteford (late superintendent of the Fire Brigade) in protecting Mr Pringle’s shop from the flames, which several times threatened to ignite the roof. Fortunately there was not a breath of wind, or the probability is that the consequences would have been far more serious than they are. On the whole, the Brigade under Captain Page ’ worked splendidly, and are to be commended for checking in its infancy what appeared to be tho commencement of a serious conflagration. Of course there was a large crowd of spectators present, several of whom, in the early stage of -the fire, lent some assistance in removing stock, etc. The following are the insurances on Mr Hosell’s stock and store:—Stock —London ’ and Lancashire, LSOO ; South British, 8000 ; Victoria, B2S0; Equitable, L 250. Build- - ing—Victoria, 1300; Standard, HOO ; total, LI9OO. Mr Pringlo’a stock was insured for L 250 in the New Zealand Office, and he values it at about L6OO. Is is rather a strange coincidence that on two successive mornings fire should break out in one street, and at almost the same . hour. It is also , equally remarkable that in 1 each case the origin of the fire is entirely ■ unknown. From the farther particulars given above of the fire opposite the Times Office,' it will be seen that the exact origin is still left in doubt. In tho ■ case of the fire at. Messrs Hasell and Co.’s, - .there is also a;good deal of doubt. The premises were closed at 11 o’clock, and everything was safe then. It is the opinion of Mr Hasell, as it is of the representatives of the Insurance Companies, that the fire was the act of an incendiary. The fire started ■ in," and never got much beyond a number of packs of tow, piled up until the top one was within a foot or two of a skylight in the roof. This skylight was ‘ f subsequently found to be broken—though to - be sure the glass may have been broken by ‘ the heat of the fire. Messrs Hasell and Co.’s premises run right back to the lull on which the'Terrace runs, and it would bo'a very easy thing for a man to step from the hill on -. to the root of the premises, walk along, step through, the skylight, put a-match to the tow (which would burn like touchwood) and walk along the roof again on to the hill < as he came. This, however, is of course only ■ conjecture; but it may safely be asserted - that snob an account of the origin of the fire is a very feasible one, Mr Hasell, it will be seen on reference to onr advertising columns, offers a reword of £looforinfonnation which will lead to the conviction of any person concerned in the act of setting fire to the premiiei. A correspondentaigninghimself “Boarder” (at the Star Hotel), writes stating that Mr Knight, licensee of the Star, is entitled to great praise for the part he took in the discovery of the fire, and the coolness he displayed in attending to the interests of his boarders subsequently. Mr Knight, onr correspondent states, made a round of his premises at 1 o’clock, and at that hour all lights were •at ■ ■ , , VVo understand that the matter has been placed in the bands of the police.