GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 2055, 5 September 1868, Page 7

GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

The New Zealand Herald of the 3rd instant contains a very fuU account of the fire in Durham street, Auckland, inteUigence of which we received by electric telegraph a few days back. The fire broke out about 6.30 a.m. on the previous day (Sunday), in the saddlery and leather warehouses of Messrs Ireland Brothers. Adjoining the burning premises on the west was the Exchange Hotel, on the cast the stores, of Mr J. Black, and at the back Messrs Arthur and Son's auction mart. Tlie latter was partiaUy destroyed. Messrs Ireland's buUdings were brick, and three storeys high. About 7.30 the fire began to abate, through the exertions of the Fire Brigade, assisted by the pubUo. Mr Joseph and a party were working a hose inside Messrs Arthur's auction mart, when the back wall ag^Messrs Ireland's premises fell »Hl npon^them and buried seven persons. were extricated as speedUy as possible, avid those most seriously injured -were takenito the Provincial Hospital. The names of the Bufferers are :— William Oixon, son of "'Mr Dixon, Chapel street—Skull fractured, jaw fractured, thigh broken, severely burned; at the Provincial Hospital. .Not expected to Kve until tMs 3nt*r2jins*. John Butler, of Chapel street, book-keeper at Phillips, painter and glazier, Wyndham street, and captain of fire engine—Fractured skull, undergoing operation. Dangerous. WiUiam Arthur, son of Mr A. Arthur, auctioneer —Injured'- spine, several cuts and bruises. Serious. Alexander MacmUan, laborer, Durham street—Severe scalp wounds; arm injured;, at the Provincial Hospital. Serious, Richard Kearney. Wakefield street—Three scalp wounds, several contusions. Not dangerous. — Moyle, Durham street—Scalp wound and contusions, Not dangerous. - H. Joseph, auctioneer—Several cuts and •contusions. Not serious.

Messrs Ireland saved nothing excepting their books and papers. They estimate the loss of the building at LISOO, and the stock at L 12,000. The stock was insured for L6OOO. The Liverpool and London Insurance Company and the New Zealand Insurance Company each lose L3OOO. The proprietor of the hotel has been a heavy sufferer through the damage done to the furniture by its hasty removal. The loss sustained by Messrs Arthur and Son is unknown.