Recent Fire in Princes-Street.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 251, 1 September 1874, Page 7

Recent Fire in Princes-Street.

•,•} r (From the Shr.J ', A fire broke out on the premises of Messrs Guthrie and Larnach, timber merchants, Princeß-street south, at about five minutes past four on Saturday'ruorriing'.' when "the alarm Was-first 1 glvefr'the'flames'were donfined to' the north aide of the premises,, pa* ticularly round the engine and boiler. The flight watchman was then (4.10 a.in.) playing a nose on that partof the premises where the engine is situated. Be said the/fire had got such headway before he-could get the water to play that he had.no control over iti .The Fire Brigade Were /promptly oh the'spot, under the command of Captain Wain» and several jets were in full.play; the main one being directed on the Prince of Wales Hotel, on the opposite- side of the road, which was seriously threatened,-and is surrounded by wooden buildings; ' The flame's' had just taken effect on the Spanish Restaurant, and with it the adjoining building,,in the occupation df Mr T. W. Haworth, was soon enveloped in flames. The boarders in the res r taurant had barely time to escape, some having to get down from the upper storeys by means of ropes, and losing all their clothes. The immigrants, with a number of willing hands, managed to get their clothing out of the depot; but this building was; after all, not damaged, the fire being entirely confined to Messrs Guthrie and Larnach's, Haworth's, and the Spanish Restaurant?. Several mbthers were rushing about in a half-dressed state, with their children irt their afmsj and'tlre: scene was' one of great excitement. The only solution that can be offered as to the cause of the fire, was that a spark from the> engine fell amongst the timber.- Two hundred men have been temporarily thrown out of employment, and the Corporation have made' arrangements by which Messrs Guthrie and Larnach will be able to erect temporary premises between Bond and Crawford-streets in a very short time. Most of the hands, with the exception of those in the manufacturing departments, will be almost immediately taken on.' Arrangements have< been made with.different timber merchants in town by which there will only a trifling delay to the customers of the firm in the execution of their orders. The iron shed was not damaged; the greatest injury being done to the manufactory, engine room, store, and offices. The firm had quite recently got out some improved machinery from, Home, and this being in a portion of the premises which the fire did not reach Will be immediately brought into operation. Constable Murdoch passed on the opposite side of the road a few minutes before the alarm was given, and then all appeared to be right. He went as far as the Government house, and on returning observed the flames issuing from the premises. It appears that Albert Hamilton, the night watchman, after going the round between quarter and half-past three this morning, on entering the yard from' Bond- street observed flames four feet high issuing from the boiler, upon which he hastened up the yard, opened the gate, and gave the alarm. He then turned on the water and endeavoured to play on the fire with the firm's hose. The place where the fire was supposed to have Originated was carefully'examined by'him 1 half an hour before it broke "out. The police were present, under the superintendence of SubInspector Mallard, and rendered valuable assistance in keeping the crowd back so as not to interfere with the brigade, while the latter deserve to be highly commended for the efficacious manner in which they discharged their arduous task.' This fire, if not the most costly, ejected the strongest volume Of flames of anv that has happened in this City for a considerable number of years. Within a short time nearly 1000 persons were on the spot. Messrs Guthrie and Lamach have since forwarded a cheque for £IOO to the Dunedin Fire Brigade, in recognition of their services on the occasion.