EARLY AUCKLAND FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 229, 28 September 1931, Page 8

EARLY AUCKLAND FIRE

LARGE QUEEN STREET AREA 54 BUILDINGS DESTROYED. One of the most serious fires in the history of Auckland occurred on the night of September 6, 1873. It broke out in central Queen Street shortly before midnight on Saturday, and resulted in the destruction of 54 buildings, mostly shops and places of business, but including some dwelling houses. The value of the destroyed property was estimated ut £70,000. The outbreak apparently commenced in Mrs. Cowley’s millinery establishment in Queen Street, on a site where Darby Street is to-day, and it spread so rapidly that in less than an hour the whole of the west side of the street up to the United Service Hotel, at the corner of Wellesley Street was ablaze. The flames crossed Wellesley Street and continued up Queen Street to the An- . chor Hotel before their progress was stayed. The part burned was an area bounded by Victoria Street, Queen Street, the old market site and Elliott / Street. The only building left standing was the Albert Brewery, the brick structure surviving the severe test of the fire. According to contemporary accounts, the members of the fire brigades which attended were not unaffected by the general panic, and ran about from place to place looking for some effective piece of work to undertake. The engines were worked when couplings had not been completed, and afterwards not worked at all when they might have been of service. Large , quantities of goods not threatened by the fire were destroyed by would-be helpers, and frenzied people were seen throwing household furniture, crockerywarc and even a grand piano to the ground from upstairs windows.