FIRE IN NELSON STREET.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 101, 6 May 1870, Page 2

FIRE IN NELSON STREET.

About 11 o'clock last night the fire bell was heard ringing out its notes of warning ; and as the streets were pretty full of people at that hour, a very few minutes sufficed 1 1 form small crowds at the various corners. The reflection of a fire was ebservcd in the direotion of Nelson-street, and a ru.h was at once made for .the scene—every street converging towards the centre being filled with numbers of people, all bearing in full speed towards the fire. A fire has been of so rare an occurrence in our midst of late, that the warning notes ot the ball appeared to produce a mora than ordinary effect, for so large a number of people in such a state of excitement, and brought together in so short a time, we have seldom seen of late. Amongst this number were, of coui'se, representatives from the various news* papers, and on our reporter arriving at the scene of the fire, within five minutes of the alarm being given, the cause of the general excitement had almost burned itself out. A stable at the back of a house in Nelson-street was on fire, but the fire was nearly over, only the uprights were left standing, and these were blazing furiously. The house was an empty one, the property of a Mr. Williams, and the stable stood behind it at the distance of a few yards. Fortunately there was not much wind, or the house must inevitably have caught alight. As it was, there was considerable danger of it, but by a plentiful supply of water which happened to be handy the sides of the house were kept from actually catching, although the house itself was much scorched and blackened. The credit of saving it from destruction is due to the members of the Fire Brigade, several of whom were upon the spot in uniform almost as soon as the alarm was given, and these worked with a will. To them Mr. Williams is indebted for. the salvation of his property. All one time it was actually proposed by one of the bystanders to pull the house down; but why this should have been done, even had the house been doomed, we do not know, seeing that it was not contiguous to any other dwellings. After the fire was out the "parish engine" was seen approaching the extinguished fire with commendable promptitude in charge if a couple of men, and drawn by a large grey horse, which appeared to be in anything but a good temper at being so unnecessarily turned out from its warm stable. Fortunately the services of the engine were not required. How the fire originated is a mystery. The stable has not been used for some time past. It is possible that some person might have taken up his quarters in it during the evening, and left an ignited match behind him, or it may kave been wilfully set on fire by some 'evil-disposed person. We understand that there was no insurance upon it. We may say, in conclusion, that a number- of police were upon the spot soon after the alarm being given, and that both Mr. Naughtou and Mr. Asher were present to look after their men had there been any serious occasion for their services.