UNKNOWN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5579, 26 September 1889, Page 2

UNKNOWN.

Tu'KKti wax "uippod i' tho bud" unxiy this morning uu incipient iire, which wan fast assuming considerable dimensions, and which, had it bueu unchecked, would have entailed a disastrous conflagration. Shortly after one o'clock Constable Pardy, who was on night duty, observed a dmse smoke from burning clothes, and knowing where there's smoke there's flame, traced the smoke to a back room in the Bank of New Zealand's line building. The room was at a corner of the building, and was just off the kitchen, and the window being open allowed the smoke to escape on the still night air. Constable Pardy ;j4'oused the inmates of the house, and several neighbors were quickly on the spot. Mr Wilson, a lodger at the Masonic Hotel, discovered the smoke had penetrated the hotel, and going out on the balcony found the street full of dense smoke. Mr Wilson straightway ran to the fire bell corner and rang the bell. So dense was the smoke that at Peel street corner one could not see across the street. Messrs Grant, Morgan, Somers, several boys, and the inmates of the houso were active in obtaining water and extinguishing the flames. The fire had originated in some linen in the spare room and a large mattress had also ignited. No clue has been obtained as to the origin of the fire. The Fre Brigade, who had held a most successful practice in Gladstone road a few hours before, were out promptly, and the engine working well, water was on the scene in fast time. Fortunately, their services were not required. — _