FIRE AT PARNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 357, 2 March 1871, Page 2

FIRE AT PARNELL.

DESTRUCTION OF MR GILBERD'S

DWELLING-HOUSE,

Shoetly before one o'clock this morning, tbe Parnell fire-bell gave warning of a conflagration raging in that localicy. The alarm was promptly taken up by the bells in the city and in less than half an hour some five hundred persons were on their way to the scene of the fire, which was found to be the dwellinghouse of Mr. Gilberd, at the top of Parnell Rise. It appears that the fire was first observed by the night watchman, who was standing opposite the Windsor Castle Hotel. He and a few others ran to the house, hoping to save some of the furniture, but on their arrival the house was in one mass of flames, Mr. Gilberd and family having barely escaped with their lives. The fire progressed so rapidly that there was no time to save anything iv the house, and the whole of Mr. Gilberd's valuable furniture and effects were consumed, with the exception of a gold watch, brought out by Mrs. Gilberd, and a picture and chair by Mr. Brown, who was one of the first at the fire. The dwelling, we understand, was insured in the Royal Insurance Company for £500, but Mr. G-ilberd's loss will be very serious. A piano, worth £60, and a quantity of jewellery and clothes, valued! at about £150 to £200, being destroyed. The fire originated in the kitchen, but from what cause is not known. Mr. Asher, of the Fire Brigade, his men, and a number of police were soon on the spot, and succeeded in keeping the fire from speading to the adjoining buildings. A brick house on the opposite side of the road had a narrow escape.