FIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 563, 10 March 1870, Page 2

FIRE.

Another serious fire occurred in the heart of the city this morning. At twenty minutes past three o'clock, Sergeant Pratt, whilst on duty near the Bank of New Zealand, observed a dense column of smoke, which on nearer examination proved to be emanating from the premises of Mrs Paterson. London Realaurant, Cashel street. By the time he had broken open the door an 1 raised an alarm, Constable Willis joined him, and at once conveyed the notice of danger to the Brigade station. Notwithstanding the early hout of the morning, the flre bells were speedily responded to, and the several engines soon got under weigh for the scene of the conflagration. Long before this, the smoke had burst into a blaze, and in a very few moments the two shops occupied by the Restaurant were hopelessly enveloped in flames. The shop of Mr Sandstein, on the east side, was also alight before any of the engines arrived on the spot, but the brick building occupied by Mr Brass, draper, next to it, and a strong party wall recently erected by Mr Pratt, draper, between his premises and the west side of the Restaurant, afforded good hope that, with reasonable measures on the part of the Fire Brigade, the fire would be confined to the three shops already mentioned as in flames. Happily, there was but a very light breeze blowing, and that being from the south west, in the direction of the brick building, further strengthened the hope. The No. 2 hand-engine, which was first to get to work, was placed with its hose up a right-of-way from Colombo street to the rear of the premises. This effectually protected the line of shop 3 running from Mr Brass' shop southward in Colombo street, and the two lengths of steamengine hose were laid down Cashel street to play upon the buildings beyond Mr Pratt's party wall. Unfortunately this engine would not work, and what at first appeared to be the certain safety of Mr Brass' stock gradually disappeared and the interior of the building caught fire. The only jet which, after a change o£ Lose and other delays, could be got to work had been taken inside Mr Pratt's shop to arrest the progress of the flames, which, having caught hold of the fan-light, had communicated to the roof. Mr Brass' premises were thus left unprotected until the fire was seen within, when No. 2 engine played somewhat uselessly upon the roof from the rear. But little more than half an hour had elapsed when the wallß of the three shops — Mrs Paterson (2), Mr Sandstein (1), had fallen in — the flames in Mr Pratt's building were being extinguished, and the flre was brought under control. Within an hour this was clearly evident, and all danger of extension was completely passed.

The Fire Police, aided by the public, saved a good proportion of moveable property from the shops actually destroyed, and almost all that in Mr Brass' premises. The fire was at its height about twenty minutes to four o'clock, and the showers of sparks blown across the street, together with the intense heat, seriously endangered the north side of Cashel street' and the Triangle. Buckets of water and wet blankets, however, Bared the buildings, and the engines were not once called into requisition. It is as impossible to over-estimate the services of the No. 2 Brigade in cutting off the fire in rear of the Restaurant, as it is to deplore the non-working of the steam-engine too much.

The full extent of the damage ie three shops entirely destroyed, Mr Brass' premises gutted, and the roof of Mr Pratt's burnt through.

Mrs Faterson's furniture, fixings, and linen were insured in the Australian and Alliance office for £250, and in the Royal for £500. Mr Sandstein's stock was insured in the New Zealand for £700. The inquest will be held at the White Hart Hotel, at 2 p.m. to-morrow.