BIG CITY FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1289, 18 November 1911, Page 5

BIG CITY FIRE.

BOUSES (N CLIFTON TERRACE. BRIGADE'S STERN FIGHT, NEIGHBOURHOOD -IN DANGER, A serious firo, resulting in tho destruction of many hundreds of pounds' worth of residential property, occurred in Clifton Terrace, Wellington, yesterday. There was a high wjnd blowing at tho time, and thero was a great deal of shrubbery in tho vicinity. Through this growth the well-fanned flames raced pell-mell, so that it was only after a long and strenuous Eght that tho bvigudo provented further destruction of property, The firo broke, out at about 3 p.m., and a largo force from various brigade stations wore fully occupied till after 5 o'clock. Towards daylight this morning men wore Still working at tho scene. The conflagration commenced in one of two fourteen-roomed houses in Clifton Terrace. Tho dwellings were owned by Mr. V. Hatton Miller, and were insured in tho .United Office for .£I9OO. They had lately boon joined and used as a boardinghouse, known as Vownog Hall. ■The buildings wero quite close upon the Kolburno tramline, sind for some time tho cars had to be held up. For an hour or so it was a little difficult to say what the outcome of tho blazo might be. The brigado had aa awkward job in handling the two big houses on the sido of the bank, and, all the while, sparks were raining fast on the thickly-populated neighbourhood. ind was also driving the highly- ■/:.'. as showers long distances, and • ;'v sorts of corners; and quite a ■'•'■.' ■■ of residents were playing miniai". 5 re brigade with their gardon hoses. '! place.? other than those which were -':'-'■" destroyed caught fire. A spark il'v something in the roof of Mr.' C'. , 'V residence in Everton Terrace, In , i trouble was quickly arrested. A, : r later the brigado vehicles were ■•'iU- down Boulcott Street, where the 'J ; -i'i' ;■ Street Hall bnd caught alight ;ti 1 , , lall' way. The hall has an iron mo; >mder which is shingle.' Away '.in:;jv .ho iron the shingles wero smoulcl-Ji-ii;? but the smoke was noticed when i ; :? > was in its earliest stage, and it ;■ !■ ■ fairly simple affair to deal with. slrr ,-f.j this building got well under tho ro-.ur of the flames before tho danger ■.»,-,-.•.. ■. covered thero wonld probably have -ic-i! ■ )üble for a big closely-built block. u..:i rer, a couple of firemen mounted '■""' l 'i f '_ an(1 > aftc '. r £ome tomahawking, r>! , ;'■"'l iff a quantity of corrugated iron •»»•'•, •-' led tne contents of a neighbour's . • ■"■ 'hile the brigade had been rein- ,,;,' i rom kewtown and Thorndon .;,.'- Jt was still proceeding at Clifton •'-■■■ •, but the danger had been lesseny-, ■ n several occasions the flames rat--1 ",•■'; liOM7l iO M7 nlon S the shrub-covered "■" but there was a fair pressure of " : -y- a A ,V e sullies were defeated. tne blaze went across the thor. ■■■■■'■'• re, ami commenced to climb the <•■"• "wards the houses perched on the '"' v It ran through tho small growth ,'.:'.!•' !o and furiously, but was quickly " ' -tor-ear in a 6 h €( ] not far frOm the ■ < .ig .buildings was got out in time. (! tis said that the shed contained •■> ie, and that it, too, was removed -■ rnead wires-men were brought up, ;'' . >.hft electric current was cut off for '•-• I falling wires becoming n menace. g crowd gathered to sco the blaze ■song the most active spectators was ,'ving-picture wan.