THE GREAT FIRE IN NELSON.

Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 927, 14 August 1866, Page 10

THE GREAT FIRE IN NELSON.

In" another column are the particulars of the first great fire which has occurred in Kelson, whereby no fewer than eighteen houses, including three hotels, two public •halls, and thirteen other buildings were totally consumed within three hours. The fire originated in the. Nelson Hotel at a place where two streets, Bridge-sbreet and Collingwood-street, cross; and in a very short time the four corner houses were on fire, burning with great fury; and from each corner the fire ran down taking several houses on each side of the streets. All the structures being of wood the flames, fanned by a strong wind, made rapid and destructive progress. The Temperance Hall, and the adjoining building, the Hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, fell a prey to the fire. This latter building was unins ared. The total loss by the fire is about £10,000, of which £6275 are covered by insurance. The principal houses and buildings with their contents were (with the exceptions of the Mitre Hotel and the Christian '; ssoeiation Hall) all partially insured, but few, if any, fully covered. The loss falls on the Insurance offices, in the following propor-tions':—-London and Liverpool and GHobe Insurance Company, Messrs. N. Edwards and Co. agents, £2375 ; New Zealand Insurance Company, Messrs. Curtis Brothers agents, £1500; .Northern' Assurance Company, Mr. James Bentley agent, £2000; Victorian Assurance Company, Mr. T. E. Fisher agent. £400.

Many people exerted themselves at the fire, some of them most conspicuously, undergoing considerable peril on the roofs of houses. Among these was Mr. T. Con way, who saved several houses by remaining on the roof of one and keeping it wet with water handed up to him while he was enveloped in smoke from the burning buildings adjoining; Mr. John Wigzell and Mr. P. Josephs did the same thing with another building; and happily their efforts stayed the progress of the fire in those directions. Others, whose names we did not ascertain, were none the less usefully employed ; and we do not doubt had there been an organised fire brigade, and some persons fitted to give directions and see them obeyed, the ravages of the fire would have been smaller. As it is, our citizens have-reason to be thankful that it is no worse; for, had the fire occurred at the further corner of the block, it would have been impossible, with the wind which was then blowing, to have prevented threefourths of the principal part of the town from being destroyed.

A subscription to aid those who have lost was opened, and the fand is being wisely distributed by a committee appointed for the purpose.