MORE FIRES IN AUCKLAND.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 108, 27 June 1885, Page 3

MORE FIRES IN AUCKLAND.

Auckland June 2i. Gkeat excitement was caused in town last evening by an alarm of fire rung cut shortly before six o'clock. The outbreak was found to have occurred in the upper portion of the building in Queen-street known as Hesketh and Aitken's seed store. The top story is occupied by Mr John Allen, wholesale soft goods warehouseman, and contained hi? stock, and it was on this floor that the fire originated Mr Allen closed hie part of the premises at fivo o'clock, and left for his homo in Ponsonby, and about halfan hour afterwards several persons in Queen-street observed smoko ascending from the roof and windows. The alarm was runtr, and the Firo Brigade and Salvage Corps were on the ground in a few moments. By this time, however, the whole compartment was on fiic, and the (lames were blazing fuiiou&ly above the roof. Leads of hose wero taken up the staircase. and also through the front window by means of a ladder. The task of the branchmen was nob by any means a pleasant one, dense volumes of smoke rendering it a difficult matter to get at the seat of the fire The pressure of water, however, wasgood, and within ten minutes from tho first alarm tho fire was practically got under. The smouldering material had to be saturated with water to prevent any danger of further outbreak, and consequently a great deal of damage has been done to the goods by water as well as by fire. While the Brigade were engaged in the extinction of tho fire, the Salvage Corps covered Hesketh and Aitken's stock with tarpaulins, to protect it as far as possible from damage by water. An inspection of the premises to-day shows that the damage to the building is confined to the top story. The roof and ceiling have been destroyed, and i good deal of damage done to the walls. Very great damage has been dotio to Mr Allens stock, which was principally opened up. Piles of blankets and other drapery goods have been charred and further injured by the smoke and water. Mr Allen says his stock was worth £3,000, and he estimates tho damage at nearly £2,500. Ho was insured for £2,200 in the Colonial Office, Und £700 ot this amount was re insured in the Phoenix. The insurance people expect that only one half of tho policy will be loss. The middlo % story was unoccupiod. Messrs Hosketh and Aitken's stock was injured to the ex tent of £120, but they are insured for £20!) in the South British. Mr Davidson earned on the business of wine and spirit merchant in the rooms behind Hesketh and Aitkea's shop, but his stock has sustained no damage. The building was insured by Mr A. Buckland in the South British for £1,000. and tho damage will be oovered by £200 or £300. Nothing has been discovered respecting the origin of the outbreak, but there is nothing suspicious connected with it. There was no firo used in the top story yesterday, or indeed at any other time. Mr Allen has been in business there for a couple of years. We are told that one or two grenades would have been sufficient to have killed the flames if they had been used by Constable Christie at the timo he entered the premises after the discovery of the fire, and that even if the Fire Brigade had had a supply they could have completely extinguished the fire with less than a dozen grenades. We believe Superintendent Hughes has expressed his desire to have a supply, and aleo that it is the fact that the Fire Brigade and Police Stations in America are supplied with them. As to the fire at the Fublic Library chimney, it is said that one grenade would have been more than enough to have extinguished it.

Colonel Haultain is acquainting himself with the charitable institutions of Sydney. Result of eleotion for Southern Maori district— Pratt, U 7 j Pftrohui t 104 j Rikai, 94,