DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PORIRUA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1966, 6 October 1863, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PORIRUA.

ONE LIFE LOST. It is with much regret we announce the total destruction by fire, of the premises at Porirua, known as London's Hotel, tbe property of Mr Henry London, involving a loss to tbat gentleman little short of £3000. As the information only reached town yesterday morning, the fire having occurred the previous night, we cannot vouch for the absolute accuracy of the following particulars, though we believe tbey are substantially correct. The premises in question, are situated on the right hand side ofthe Poiirua Road, near the harbour, and consist of a store and hotel in one building. Closely adjoining, is another and newer house, in fact only a few feet apart, and 1 this also has been destroyed. On Sunday night ; the family retired to bed about 10 o'clock. There were three workmen and a half-caste also in the house, who slept iv the upper flat. Soon after going to bed one of these men felt the smell of fire and at once got up and called ■ to a fellow workman named " Tom Florence," , who instantly jumped out of bed. The men opened tbe room door, when a rush of smoke was felt, which convinced them tbat the house 1 was really on fire. The half-ca&te at this Junei ture joined them, and Florence thinking he P looked stupified, hastily told him to make for ' the staircase, which he himself reached, but in sucb baste that he fall from top to bottom, and lay stunned on the floor for a few minutes wheu • be recovered partially and contrived to open , the back door and get out Meantime tbe other two men bad escaped by tbe windows, ! except the half-caste, who was nowhere to be seen. : Immediately on the alarm being raised, Mr i Hills, who lives iv an adjoining house, came out and broke open the hotel door, but was prevented from entering by the flames which belched forth the moment an opening was made. He then rushed to the window of Mr London's mora on the ground floor, and succeeded, with the assistance of two men in pulling him out. Mr London was lying on his face quite insensible having been stifled by the smoke. It was some time before he revived, and he has unfortunately not yet recovered from the shock he experienced. All tbis time there was the utmost uncertainty as to whether the half caste had got out or not, but it was impossible to ascertain, because tbe the whole premises were fast becoming one mass of flame. In less than au hour from the first alarm, the work of destruction was complete, and a heap of smoking ruins was all that remaiued. Search was then made for the halfcaste, aud the body was found at the foot ofthe staircase, frightfully disfigured, The arms were almost burned off to the shoulders, and the rest of tbe corpse was a charred mass of flesh and bone. Tbe unfortunate man bad either fallen down the stairs and had been stunned, or else tbe smoke had stifled him. Mr London had only insured the properly for a very trifling sum, and will thus be a heavy loser. A