GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1004, 25 July 1883, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

[by telegraph.] Auckland, Te-day.

At three o’clock this morning the fire bell rang out an alarm, and it was at once seen from the fact that the whole of the eastern sky was lit up that a very serious fire was raging in Mechanic’s Bay, which proved to be the Union Sash and Door Company’s Factory. The building is an immense wooden pile, standing on the reclaimed land abutting on the sea. There were no horses available to take the fire engines to the scene, and the consequence was that the firemen had to drag the engines through the mud and rain, arriving on the scene of the fire completely exhausted. The Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, speedily followed the Brigade men. As soon as possible the hose was laid on from the pump in Stanley street and taken across the street towards the burning factory, but there were great complaints ef the insufficient supply of hose, owing to the distance, and the consequence was that the fire crossed the roadway and ignited the stacked timber which was speedily in a sheet of flames. Hughes and his men did all in their power with the miserable resources at their command, and succeeded in keeping the fire within the limits of the factory; and timber yards, allowing it to bum itself out within these limits, this being all they could do under the circumstances. The brilliant blaze from the burning kauri pine illuminated the whole city. . A fierce north-easter carried immense clouds of sparks .down the railway embankment, and fears were entertained for the safety of the Company’s joinery stores, wliere the doors, sashes, window frames and .All finer kinds of manufactured wboawdrk are kept, and. also for "the kerosene bonded store a short distance off, and had that taken fire it is hard to say what the consequences would have been. Fortunately the huge railway embankment, acted as a screen and protection to both buildings, which being constructed of galvanised iron, were less subject to the risk of being set on fire by the falling sparks. These, however, fell in dense masses among the houses and shops of Official Bay and Alten road, and alarm was felt in case an outbreak should occur in consequence ; hut fortunately the heavy rain which was falling at the time averted the danger. Owing to the direction of the wind the offices of the company were saved from the flames being carried northwards, but the whole of the stabling accommodation and the residences of the carters, who live there were burnt. The origin of the fire is unknown, hut . from the suddenness with which the fire burst forth immediately after the bieaking of glass, as stated below, the watchman is of opinion that the fire was not accidentally caused. Mr Creer, one of the watchmen employed by the Company, made the following statetnent: —There are two night watchmen employed on the premises, each one having separate divisions, with tell tales in each section to act as a check on them. My round was in the lower division. At a quarter to three o’clock this morning I heard the sound of 'lass breaking near the breaking down machinery. I went to ascertain the cause, and immediately a sheet of flame burst out. I immediately called to Quinlan, the other watchman, and gave an alarm, and he came and got the hose ready and in work while 1 rang the bell. There was a gale and the ringing could not be heard any distance. Some delay arose in getting help. Holland, a painter, of Parnell, passed the building in a cab about twenty minutes to three and saw no indications of fire. He states'that when the cab got to Alten road he saw the flames suddenly burst up. He immediately drove to the Wakefield stand and rang an alarm. The following is a list of the insurances: —New Zealand Co., LI,OOO ; National, L4OO. The South British holds a policy for L 5.000, of which L 3.900 is re-insured in several offices, among which are the N.Z., L 35 0; North British, L 50 0; United, L 250 ; Victoria, L 250 ; London and Lancashire, L 50 0; Union, L 750 ; Northern, L4OO. The total insurances are L 7.350, but the loss is very considers ably greater, and a large number of workmen has been thrown out of employment.