DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 118, 18 October 1873, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

IMMENSE LOSS OF PIiOPEiiTY.

(Abridged from tho N.Z. Herald , September 15.) Ax ten minutes past f wclvo o’clock this morning the Ore-beiis ol the city rang out tho alarm of lire! i’ho fire broke out in tho stores ot Henderson and Macfurlano’s situated at tho roar of their main premises, in Queen street. A tremendously strong wind blew from tho IN .11., accompanied by showers. I “om the building wherein the fire commenced, the heat, driven by t he strong wind fiercely ami steadily blowing, hud mercih ss hands on the outhouses and structures in the immediate vicinity, and rapidly communicated if,self to the adjoining store of J S Macho-hum, thence to Stone Brothers, and subsequently to those of G. W . Hinncy. in the meanwhile, however, the lire bad communicated itself to the rear of the main building of Henderson and Macftirlunc’s. In front, the offices doomed were those of Henderson and Mac/arlano, situate in tho centre of their block ; Messrs J and J Moppet, tenanting that to the 11 j bit. to the loft, in tho d irec.i ,n oi the wharf and nest in order were the premises of tile United States i'ruit Depot; Eaton, produce merchant: Andfison and On, ship chandlers; and Morton Jones ; tno j' Imuii-s H ote.J fnrmii.glho corner. Up Queen street, from Bucholz’s office were Filinghtun s, J S Macf■!rlane’s, Ucaning’s tinware shop, U W liinney a large auction room and produce store. Above lli -,e again, and which at ono o ciook had the appearance of being safe, were the, premises of Black and Co, Highiey und Co, tho L .S. Dm mg liooms, Partington's biscuit maker, tho wine and spirit store of ii S Meyers and Co, Jno Beni's store, and tiro Metropolitan Hotel. At o'clock tho fire burst through tho i; at (no rear of Henderson and Macfari.mc s main building. hive minutes subsequently the flames not a: ned such a Isold upon tins block > ! ncy burst. through J S Mucfariaoe’s store liitu the trout street., anti five minutes later made Unhr appearance through ISllingham'a. The Brigade s ut this time were playing on tho fronts of Loose auuutngs, but it was only water wat-tod. At seventeen rmnute.i past one tho roof of stone Biothers ignited, although every effort wiu made to avert sunn a catastrophe. At 2.-0 a.m. tho fire had resulted in tho

of. iu Q.m -on and Maem.lnm.s prcnm-e: o' of which 'V‘ a ... Urn d»vt#f,c«?..yV !l) u ”' t must. be incb.ucd ff., mliccs oi * •J -'"“I «J Moppet t, nuilers, Su\ ,£>.i eho. amt Co, general uunvU mts. hem,mg’s tinware .'hop was totally destroyed. Urn! hers' premises and slock ditto." Amt «ns in imminent danger of attaching :!e.t to tile (Var ol l-iinm-Vs main store, wherein wn,i contained mi immense slock of grain of all de.'Wipi ions, i’ mr, A.*. '* At the rear of Q .een street T,. ’"hidings and w»‘«MUimci were those of lienjepson and ilaehti-nvne, «I S 55 aeinriane, and Slone iirot hers The Volunteer Fire Brigade yed almost incessant-iv on Fm shingle r<mf of the Metropolitan Hotel, mul kepi that, place haul being ignited by the shower of* sparks mu! pieces of burning wood (hat (VII constantly upon it. William’s ship e.'i.mciiery store at the corner of Fort and Queen streets, was also in imminent danger of igniting at, the root Irom the shower of failing sparks, unci was with difficulty kept from igniting. At Z4O the back shore of Cl W iiiuney hud eaaght lire. Strong efforts were made to save ! beui. The hack w indow of the main building burst out from the intense heat. Katon’s building m Queen street,, north of flendersan’s and Jlaohrlamfrt, was saved by a greed cllbrt, but much damaged. At, 2.00 the rearmost shed of Eatons, in which was stored a large quantity of gum, and waved to Tins moment by the largo brick wall of Henderson, and Maefarblue’s store, ignited. , lho buddings destroyed, together with the uirgor proportion <,l the tilooka they cotit-iunod, wero but to what amount, or m what oillees, wo hud not been able to ascertain at t he Into hour we wont to press beyond the fact, Fuat Mr Q- W Bhme? was insured in the .New Zealand, South British, ami Victoria for between .€II,OOO and i>l2,(K!o’ ; Mr Klliuplunn in the Norwich Union for £i,(W(tho only bias of the company), mul Henderson and Maelju-lane and .1 S Macfarhmo for large amounts in various utlb ee; the Scottish Commercial lose nothing, whilst wo believe Victoria ami Now Zealand Companies aro the principal sullWew, The, store# of Messrs E and JLL Isaacs in Fort street were atoms time in great danger, and a largo quantity of goods wore removed for safety. The timber in lioldship’s yard was partially removed, but this whs soon discovered to bo wholly unnecessary. The roof of the Waifcomata Hotel wa« covered with blankets, and 15 or go men were stationed there with buckets of water to keep them damp. About seven and a-half years ago tho samo block of buildings was destroyed by fire, as also a largo amount of property. At 4.30 a.in. tho lire had become subdued. W e arc ghm t o record that once having corn* umneed their labours, the Brigades worked harmoniously and ollieioutlv, and it was duo to tho bountiful supply of water that the fire was brought under command at tho tii.no it was.