THE LATE DISASTROUS FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 257, 4 November 1870, Page 2

THE LATE DISASTROUS FIRE.

[BY THE LYITELTON PRESS SPECIAL REPORTER. J

I purpose giving under tho above heading a few miscellaneous details which—in the necessarily hurried manner in which my brief report yesterday morning of this disastrous affair was compiled, may have been omitted. The first in sequence which I shall notice is THE ASPECT OP CHEISTCHTJECH.

From about half-past 10 p.m. on Monday a sort of uneasiness appeared to prevail in the city, mainly aroused by the presence of an ominous looking glare in the direction of Lyttelton, which could not readily be accounted for, in the off-hand manner, in which it was endeavoured to bo explained by the remark, " Oh, it's only a grass fire." At last His Worship the Mayor and several of the City Councillors who shared the general uneasiness in company with the citizens, took the initiative by rousing the telegraph operator at the Chrisfcchuvdi stat on, and asking him to establish telegraphic communication between Christchurch and Lyttelton. Unfortunately the latter operator had been calling to his confrere,. in Chrislchurch for some time without receiving any answer, and at lapt when communication was opened, a few brief sentences confirming the worst fears of those in Ohristchurch was all that could be re'c3ived before the advance of the flames destroyed the telegraph posts. Although this was the case, I do not see any reason why the railway line should not have been utilised. Immediately on the receipt of this news, Mr. Superintendent Harris, acting with commendable promptitude, waited on the Mayor, and that gentlemen tit once acceded to the request. that the steam fire engine and the hook and ladder apparatus, together with brigade and fire police, should be at once placed at the disposal of our Lyttelton neighbours, and forwarded by the special train. .Alas for the mutability of human affairs, the red tape which it has been affirmed has slaughtered more Englishmen than the swords of the enemy iutervened, a delay of some time —a delay when minutes, aye seconds, were precious. The bells of the city tolled out a warning pe&l, and thick and fast the people poured through the streets, all but a few ignorant of the reason of the disturbance arad looking eagerly into the town for indications of the supposed fire. I, in company with several others who were on the gui vive, made for the Railway station, and in a few minutes the destination of the Fire Brigade becoming known by means of the engine rattling along, there was a regular stampede in the direction of the Eailway station, until some four or five hundred people had congregated. THE SCENE ON THE PLATFORM Was varied in the extreme. After paying that obedience at the shrine of red tape which is so characteristic of Englishmen, and officials in particular—and which on this occasion consisted of the station-master sendiug off a message to know whether he should start a train or not—a delay which seemed to me, considering the urgency of the case, unneeded, steam was got-up, and the train ranged up alongside the platform. In the meantime the steam fire engine came up, and the engine was soon placed upon a truck ready for the journey* A scene then ensued tbat bailies description. Everyone in the crowd seemed to think that it was incumbent upon him to proceed to Lyttelton with all convenient speed, and, therefore, proceeded to fight vigourously for a seat in the train, but the usually courteous station-master was adamant. All sorts of ruses was tried to obtain the coveted passages, and the most amusing reasons given why the applicant should be one of the favored few. Government officials, post-office authorities, bankers, aye, even the potential city councillor, pleaded in vain ; the obdurate heart of Mr. Jones was not softened one iota. To all the blandishments and threats he simply replied," I shan't start the train until I get only the fire brigade and police in it." Even your humble servant murmnred the open sesame of the " Press" in Tain, like Protheus, I had to assume many

forms to elude the Argus-eyed official?, but I at length found an abiding place in a truck with some right good fellows of the nr« brigade, with whom I struck up an alliance, offensive aud defensive, on the spot. Several individuals having been ignominiously hauled out of the trucks to my secret delight, the train started after a delay of something like three quarters of an hour of valuable time. We were soon speeding away, and after a somewhat tedious journey, owing to some obstructions in the tunnel, we reached our destination. THE FIRST SIGHT OE THE PIEB.

On the train running clear of- the railway •walls, the terrific scene in all its grandeur burst upon our yiew. Before us lay a veritable lake of fire, the flames leaping and hissing, as. if rejoicing in their deadly work ; the lurid glare lighting up with a Rembrandt-like color the hills in the back ground, and the ships in harbour, every yard and rope being perfectly distinct, as in the full light of day. Few, I think, who saw that scene will forget it, and I trust it will le long ere I maybe caladuponto B itness such a one. On the" reclaimed la ;d, as the Brigade trundled their horse-reel out and got their steamer into position, might be seen whole families of six or eight little children, Tvioh their mother, half-dressed, crouching behind aheap of piled-up furniture, huddled close together for the sake of protection from the keen north-easter, which swept bitterly from the sea. The poor little fellows raised a cheer as the train ran into the Btation, and they saw by the light glittering on tlie helmets of the men that help ha i at lest arrived. The steamer was soon got into position, and in thirteen minutes steam was up to 7Olbs and two ho3e laid. Several citizens of Lyttelton deserve honorable mention. When the fire was at its height the exertions of Messrs. Allwright, La Nauze, Roper, A.. Cuff, Packard, Captain Wheeler (s.s. Taranaki), and his officers and men ; and others whose names I was unable to learn, were directed with the hand engine towards saving the premises of Mr. D. Davis, and the Post and Telegraph office. The former buildings were saved almost intact by a, continuous stream of water being poured upon them, and the latter, although of course, much damaged by the intense heat and wnter, was, although several times on fire, ultimately saved from total destruction. I have already given an account of the spread of the conflagration, and will now give a short account of the apprearance of : THE BTONS NEXT DAT.

From an early hour crowds of persons thronged by each train into Lyttelton from Christcburc'h, and such a mass of ruins met their view as astonished even those who had come prepared to some extent to see a wide expanse of devastation. One of the most noteworthy relics of the fire was a small house situated in the very midst of the area which had been the centre of the fire, and which, although filled with oils, turps, and other inflammable matter, escaped almost scatheless. Every train brought its quota of visitors, until the streets became densely crowded, and up to a late period of the evening persons remained inspecting the ruins. THE OBIGIN OF THE FISE.

As far as I can gather, it appears that -when the first alarm of the fire was given a person who was amongst the first to get into the room in which the fire originated found several cases full of straw, which were all flames. No water was procurable for some time, and when it was obtained the fire had got such a mastery that all. efforts to stay its progress was in vain. By whab means the fire originated in this room is till a1 mystery, a.3 it appears no one went in there after 4 p.m., and there was no fire or light in the room.

AMOUWT OF LOSS AND INSUKANCE.

The following is a correct list as I have heen able tp obtain, with the assistance of a gentleman resident in Lyttelton, of the losses and, insurances on the various buildings : - Canterbury Hotel, £3000 loss, building insured in the Liverpool, London, and Q-lobe for £600, and the Northern for £500; Hargrave's wool store, £300 loss; insurance not known ; Dalgety and Co., office, store, bond and grain in warehouse, £5500 loss, stock insured for £3000 in the Imperial, £500 in the Liverpool, London, and Globe ; Forbes, store, £500, insured for £150 in the Liverpool, London,and Q-lobe; Bhodes, stores, £400, insured in the Eoyal for £350; Eobinson. shop, £500; Barnes, empty house, £50, uninsured; Hargraves, ditto, £300 ; Leslie, Saxon Hotel, £2200, £600 on building in New Zealand Company ; Parkinson and Co., butcher's shop, £300, uninsured; Robinson, shop,£soo; Cameron Brothers, £2500, building uninsured; stock insured for £1.000 in New Zealand Company; Taylor and Co., store, £2000, building insured £500 Liverpool, London and GHobe, slock £500 Victoria; Heron, house, £200, building insured, £100, Liverpool, London, d G-lobe ; Hough, shop, £150 ; Robin Hood, £2000, uninsured; Lazarus, £400, stock uninsured ; Recce, store, £200 ; Lyttelton Timis office, £400, insured £400 New Zealand Company j Dransfield, £5000, stock insured £1000 Liverpool, London, and G-lobe"; Hawkins, three stores (stock part removed), £2000, building and stock insured £1200 Liverpool, London and Globe; Roper, empty shops, £300, uninsured; Dransfield, ditto, £150, Shades Hotel and Assembly Rooms, £3000, uninsured; Clifford, dwelling, £200 ditto ; T'itcaithley, shop, £1500 ditto; Bank of New Zealand, £900, building insured £250, furniture, &c, £250, New Zealand Company; empty house, £20, uninsured ; Bunker, shop and dwelling, £800, building insured £200, £400, Liverpool, London and Globe-; Ayers, shop, £400, building insured £200 ditto; Ellisdon, shop and stock, £1500, uninsured; Walker, stone shop and stock, £3780, uninsured ; ditto, two houses, £300, ditto; G. Lewis, shop, £900, insured building, London and Lancashire, stock £350, Liverpoold, London, and Globe; Fyfe, dwellinghouse, £200, building insured £150, New Zealand Company; Walsh, dwelling, £100, uninsured ; Percy, shop and stock, £600, both insured £250, Liverpool, London and Globe; McDonald, Ehop and stock, £1100, both insured £500, Liverpool, London and Globe ; Trounce, shop, £200, uninsured; Arthur, shop, JEISO; Spearey, £250, insured £250, Liverpool, London and Globe ; Rossiter, shop, £200, uninsured; Railway Hotel, £500 do; WiUcox, £400, do ; do, one shop, £100, do ; Young, £900, both house and shop insured £750, Liverpool, London and Globe; Bay-; field, £800, uninsured ; Heslop, three shops, £800, uninsured ; Rich, shop, £300, building insured £200, London and Lancashire; Queen's Hotel, £3000, building insured £1000, New Zealand; Cathro, shop, £20, uninsured ; Nathan, empty shop, £100, Hunter, £800, uninsured} Webb, £100, do j Irving, £600,

do ; Fisher, dwelling and sK """ Burt, shop and dwelling, £lOoO\£3oo, do; stock insured £700 (£SOOV^-/N^mg and Company and £200 in Li! /rpooV^Ml(*--and G-lobe), Wade, £200, '^uilding iK*°j. £100, New Zealand Company; Oullifoti £200 do, £100 do ; Dr. bfßouse, £ IOOb building £300 in Alliance, furniture and* stock, £500 da; Merson, double shops, £4000, building insured £500, stock £500 New Zealand Company ; Fyfe, £400, stock and building insured £150 each, Liverpool, "London and GHobe; Judge, £300, uninsured • .Milnej, £300, ditto; Hendley, £300, building uninsured, stock insured for £200 in Liverpool, London, and GHobe; Nalder, £700, building- insured, £200, London and Lancashire, stock £150 ditto ; Pratt, £2600, building and stock insured for £1300 in Liverpool, London, and GHobe, £300 in Alliance; Eberfc, £630, uninsured; Woledge and Co., £400 ditto; store (empty), £100 ditto; Mitre stables, £50 ditto; Mitre (damaged and by removal of itock), £700, building insured for £1000 in New Zealand Company, stock £300 ditto; Austin, £150, uninsured'; Cummins, shop, £300 ditto ; ditto, four cottages, £200 ditto; ditto, Clifton House, £200, building insured for £400 ; Belgrave, Rising gun, £2000, building and stock insured iv New Zealand Company for £500 j Wyman, cot. tage £70, insured for full amount in Liverpool, London, and Globe ; Mills, cottage £100 ditto ditto; Heywood and Co., £400, building insured, £300; Customs and Post Office, £500, insured £600, Liverpool, London, and Globe ; Telegraph Office, £60; Joyce, house £300, uninsured. Total loss, £80,000, to which has to be added damage by lire, water, and removal, making, in all, close on £100,000. Amount of insurance, £23,000. -