FIRE ON LAMBTON QUAY, WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume XII, Issue 1215, 31 August 1869, Page 6

FIRE ON LAMBTON QUAY, WELLINGTON.

(From the Wellington Independent, Aug t 10.) A most mysterious five occurred about two o'clock on Sunday morning in Mr. Russell's music warehouse on Lambton Quay, Wellington. [Mr. Eussell is known in Nelson, having some time ago delivered a lecture here entitled the " Harp of Erin."] It seems that no one was sleeping on the premises, as Mr. Russell was at the Hutt. The sound of the fire-bells soon brought the Central Brigade on the ground, who were closely followed by the Wellington Brigade, who had much farther to come. It would appear that the fire had been smouldering some time without giving any outward sign of the damage that was being done within, as when the brigades reached the ground very little flame was visible, although clouds of smoke were issuing from every chink. Upon effecting an entrance into the shop to enable the firemen to deluge the inside, the man who went in with the branch was so suffocated with the Bmoke and vapor that he fell down insensible ; and even after having been dragged into the fresh ah-, he was some time before he recovered consciousness. In a very short time, however, several vents were made. The back and front windows wero broken, aud four strong streams of water—two in front and two in the rear—were directed on the flaming mass inside. Only once did the flames break through the house, which was through the roof, but the extraordinary energy of the brigades soon smothered it, and the place was again dark almost immediately. In about two hours from the arrival of the first engine on the ground, the fire might be said to have been completely extinguished, so as to permit of an examination of the inside-of the shop. It presented a strange sight, and was suggestive of the idea of the inside of a charcoal kiln, The destruction of the stock was almost utter : musical instruments, toys, aud all the paraphernalia of a music shop lay around in heterogeneous confusion ; shelves filled with concertinas burnt without being displaced; while in the centre of the shop stood the remains of a once beautiful piano, valued by Mr. Russell at £150. In a room adjoining the shop were a lot of toys and perambulators, the fire did not enter, but the contents were more or less damaged by water. Every inch of the walls and ceilings of the back rooms, and of upstairs, was charred, confirming the impression, that the fire had been smouldering for a considerable time. Indeed so little outward sign of it was to be seen that, were it not for the unusual appearance of the fire engines on the opposite side of the street on Sunday morning, unobservant passers-by would not have remarked anything unusual. [The fire brigade is highly spoken of for their activity.]

We understand that on "taking stock" Mr. Russell estimated the contents of the shop to be worth £-1000, while he is insured for but £1800.

During the early progress of the fire, one of the members of the Wellington Brigade, Lieutenant Laurie, had his hand severely cut by the plate glass of the front windows while endeavoring to effect an entrance. A casualty of a different kind occurred in connection with this fire. Mr. Prosser, we understand, is the loser of a valuable horse, from being over-driven ; it is rendered useless for further work, as its hind-quarters are paralysed. It was first ridden at a hard gallop from its stable to the engine-house, and then driven furiously to the fire.

The origin of the fire is unknown, while the peculiar appearance of the inside of the house baffles conjecture. It is said that at about twelve at night several people who happened to be passing smelled fire strongly, but could observe nothing. About the same hour, Mr. Asher, a member of the Central Brigade, remarked the smell of fire so much that he examined some of the premises close to, but of course failed to see anything.

[An inquest has been held, and the jury returned a verdict to the effect that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated.]