ARCHARD AND BROWN'S KOROSENE STORE DESTROYED.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 327, 26 January 1871, Page 2

ARCHARD AND BROWN'S KOROSENE STORE DESTROYED.

SUPPOSED INCENDIARISM

It is a remarkable fact that, in Auckland, one fire usually follows close upon the heels of another. We may be free from these dread scourges for many months, but let there be but a fire at length, and it will, in all probability, be followed by another within a very few days. Shortly after midnight the firebells were heard ringing throughout the towu, and the few people that were about were for a time at a 1033 to know in which direction they should proceed, for there was no reflection ,to be seen from the lower part of the town. A rush was made to Hobson-street, when it was at once seen the conflagration was on the following side of the city—it was thought in Parnell. On getting to the Supreme Court, our reporter at once saw that Archard and Brown's kerosene store was in flames. It appears that Mr. Leers, of Parnell, was one of the first to see the flames coming out of the roof of the shed, when he at once proceeded to call Mr. Archard, who lives on the rise of the hill. The| store was built of corrugated iron, and at the time of the fire was occu, pied by twelve hundred cases of keroseneeach case containing eight gallons, making, in all, nearly ten thousand gallons. This, at 3s. 6d. per gallon, gives the value of the kerosine destroyed at £1680. The greater portion of this belonged to Messrs. Stannus Jones, and various lots belonged to Mr. T. and S. Moirin, J. C. Morrin, Dickey Bros., Vance and Co., Stone Bros., and others. Not a single case was insured, and the loss will, therefore fall upon those who stored the oil. The value of the shed, which stood upon a piece of vacant ground between the Alten Road and Stanleystreet, was £150. It was not insured. Mr. Archard states that he wished the storers to insure their oil when they placed it in his building, but they declined to do so. Of course no effort was made to stay tlie progiess of the flames—the only thing to do was to allow them to burn themselves out. As may be easily imagined, it gave out an intense flame and heat, and belched forth huge volumes of thick black smoke, which rolled away inland. Fortunately the store was apart from all other buildings, or the immense masses of flame, mounting fully seventy feet in the air, must have caused their destruction. A large crowd of people assembled and watched the progress of the fire from the Alten Road and other places. The police under Inspector Broham, and the Fire Brigade under Superintendent A sher (with their engines) were early on the spot, but their assistance was not required. The appearance of the fire at the time when the corrugated iron gave forth blue fire was very fine, and the heat thrown out was of the most intense description. The fire continued until all the kerosene was thoroughly exhausted, which was not till past two o'clock.

We greatly fear that this fire was the work of an incendiary. Mr. Archard states that when he came down, the first thing he noticed was that one of the sheets of corrugated iron had been forced open, and ho feels convinced that some person must have entered this aperture and wilfully set the kerosene on fire. The cases were piled up tier upon tier, each case being covered with wood. There will, no doubt, be an inquiry iuto the affair, and we earnestly trust that if the place really was set on fire, that tho guilty parties will bo brought to justice and punished.— Herald.