FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11943, 17 January 1901, Page 6

FIRES.

FIRE AT WAIN'S HOTEL. A little after half-past 5 o'clock yesterday I morning tho Fire Brigade were called out by I an alarm from the post office indicator. On coming up Princes street Constable O'Connor, who had given the alarm, pointed out the outbreak, which had occurred in the old por : tion of Wain's Hotel, in llanse street. This part of the building, which is very old, is con- I structed of wood, and by the time the brigade arrived the flames had got such a hold of it that Captain Mitchell could see at a glance the task before him was one of difficulty and danger. So effective were the efforts of the brigade, and so well directed were the leads of water, however, that'in about three-quarters of an hour the flames were in check, and the newer portion of the premises—Wain's Hotel proper—was hardly touched. The fire was caused by the dangerous practice of reading in bed by candle light. About midnight the licensee (Mr Palmer) went round, and seeing a light in the room occupied by the attendants, called out to them to extinguish it. This order was apparently neglected, and one of the attendants, Edward Peterson, who was reading in bed. had two small pieces of candle stuck in a little tin box which was overflowing with candle grease. Charles Rowo, ,who shared the room, says that he had a smoke before turning in and left Peterson reading. Peterson evidently went to sleep without putting out the light, and when the wick burned down into the Eocket the usual result occurred. Eowe woke up about 1 o'clock and found tho wall paper on fire.' His pillow, mattress, and sheet were also burning, as well as some clothes in a wardrobe in the corner of the room. Both'men attempted to smother the flames with "blankets, and practically succeeded in doing 60. Evidently they had driven some sparks through the lining, and there they smouldered till they had got a good hold. The flames ate their way upwards into a vacant room on the top flat (immediately above tho cooks' bedroom), where it is probable the window was open. The north-westerly wind blowing fanned tho flames, and drove them with increasing strength southwards, until they had entirely gutted the top floor, south of tho room wherein tho fire started., In a room parallel with the one mentioned there was a bed unspotted by a single drop of water.; while tho room next door to it was a charred and, blackened ruin. Thinking that everything was safe, Rowe went to lied a<rain, but Peterson stayed up till 4 o'clock. , Faiimc must have overcome him, for the next the men' knew was an alarm given by tho night porter IFredorick Lake) about half-past 5. At 5.3S Constable O'Connor, who was in Manse street, saw heavy smoke issuhxr from the top' of the building, but thought it came from one of the chimneys. He soon became convinced, however, that the place was on fire, and ran round to the post office indicator and gave the alarm. Captain Mitehrll states that he got the alarm at 5.40, and in a couple, of minutes the firemen were on the scene. He immediately rrot four leads of water on to the fire, and after a hard struggle lasting about three-quarters of an hour he got it under. The real danger was that the flames would snne-ul to Hie adjacent buildings—Brown, Awing, and Co.'s, and the main hotel. The firemen were very fortunate to have connuered the fire so snon. fov the big wooden building, on account of its ace, had alwavs been regarded as a menace to the whole block. At 8.10 a.m. another alarm was given from the hotel, but it was due to the thoughtless act of an nmploycn who saw a snnrt of flame in the rafters, which he could have extinguished with 8 bucket of water.

The united insurance companies interested' met thii morninp. and wcrmiy rommendert fie work of tho hripde. It was admitted that the firemen had never done anything 'Po successfully as this piece of work, and that their efforts had saved the whole lilock. which, from the insurance point- of view, is the most valuable in Dnnedw. They bad not nnlv extinguished a <?reat and sfronp fire in a, building 40 years old, which it had Ion" been thought would, if fired, he imnossihlo to. save, but- their promptitude had prevented the fire from snreadimr lo the buildings adjoininpr. and thin saved from destruction the whole block". Mr Palmer also ptives the brigade great credit for their smart work, and states that the fire did not spread after the briyade had pot to work. It was blocked just nt the boundary of his premises and Messrs Brown. Ewing's.

The insiT'nces are as follows:—Royal Exchange. £2250 (reinsured in London and Lancashire £475, Sun £400,- Guardian £312

10s, and North Queensland £250). The main building was insured for £4250, but was not at nil damaged. Tiie premises of Messrs Crust and Crust, which are located on the ground floor, escaped with a- wetting. Stationery valued at under £5 was ruined and a portion of the ccilins! fell down. Mr Warn is unable to Mess his loss at present, but it is extensive. Mr Palmer did not have much furniture in the Manse street building, and his loss will be .covered by £100. A small fire broke'out about 11 o'clock last night in a two-storey building in Percy terrace, off King street, occupied by a carpenter name:! John James Roberts. The Fire Brigade were soon on the scene, and extinguished the flames without difficulty. The outbreak was caused by a candle setting fire to the curtains in the bedroom, but beyond the destruction of some bedding and a slight charring of the room no damage resulted, and a few pounds will suffice to cover the loss.

THE AUCKLAND FIRE. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 16. The Eire Brigade Committee of the City Council discussed the bis fire which occurred on Sunday morning. With reference to appliances, the committee thought a start towards improvement might be made by procuring ladders to enable the brigade to reach high buildings, and a committee was appointed to cohfor with the superintendent of the brigade with a view to an order being sent off by the outward San Francisco mail. It was also decided to hold an inquiry into the whole matter,