FIE ON THE QUAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1797, 9 July 1913, Page 8

FIE ON THE QUAY.

DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE. OTAGO BUFFET IN ASHES. • OTHER PREMISES SUFFER. HOOD BROS. BURNT OUT. ' THE BRIGADE'S FIGHT. At a few minutes past 8 o'clock last evening the inmates of tho Otago Buffet on Lambton Quay, directly opposite tho Police Station, wero alarmed to discover the place on lire, tho outbreak being directly over tho kitchen. As tho premises were of wood and very old, the flames spread quickly through tho building, and into the adjoining premises, which wero fairly alight when tho, brigade arrived, in response' to a call from the Police Station, liaging within wooden walls tho fire quickly established a Arm hold on thes? premises, occupied by Hood Bros., drapers and mercers, and by Mr. Ernest Grimmett (Lambton Tea Kooms), and from thero spread to another two-story wooden building, known as "Tho Byko," and occupied as a cyclo and motar-cyclo shop by Mr. J. Boucher.

The whole of tho Otago Buffet building (the front shop of which was occupied by Mr. C. E; Baudinet, tobacconist and hairdresser) was totally destroyed, and of it nothing remains but a charred mass of ruins. Tho adjoining block (Hood Bros, and Mr. Grimmett's) is the old premises occupied so long by Warnock, Kelly, and Adkin, drapers. It was completely gutted, whilst extensivo damage has been done to tho upper floor of "Tho Byko." The brigadesmen quickly realised that they had a tough task to face, and to make matters worse, it happened that a fresh northerly breeze was fanning tho flames. Moreover, thero was nothing in the way of brick dividing walls to check the steady over-mastering spread of tho fire. Had it not been for tho resistanco provided by J. and A. Mackay's threestory brick premises, which aro situated immediately next to the south of tho Sn g0 thc could easily havo flown along; tlio Quay from building to building Fortunately, thero wero no windows in Mackay's wall, and so fln effectivo fire buffer was provided.

SPECTACLE AT ITS HEIGHT. The burning mass provided a. striking spectacle between 8.30 p.m. and 9 p.m liifi names were then leaping skyward from the centre of the block, belching irom a row of front windows on the first floor, whilst, high above the ascending volumes of thick smoke, showers of sparks provided a, pyrotechnic display. Five leads of hose were presently got into play from tlio big main on Lambton Quay, ana two leads drew their supply from tho new 21-inch main, which leads directly from the Morton Dam at Wuinui to the Bell Road reservoir. The pressure could hardly have been better, and the immense volumes of water concentrated from the grounds of Mr. A. H. Turnbull at the back and the Quay in the front, gradually swamped'tho flames out. The lire was practically "captured" at about 9.20 p.m., and from that out the brigade worked into tho buildings from the back, until every sign of flame was doused, FEARS FOR LIFE. A number of pcoplo wero staying at the Bullet, and fears wero .entertained as 'to.iTV'liet-heriiany.iOf'ithe -boarders,, were in bed at tho time. This apparently was ono of tho first things which concerned tho police, for, on learning of tho outbreak, Sub-Inspector' Sheelian and ChiefDetective Broberg immediately ran to tho Buffet, with the object of arousing any sleepers. They met ono man coming downstairs, and it is understood that another also was disturbed in slumber, and beat a hasty path for the exit. One unconcerned individual was observed strolling downstairs with his "bluey" on his back. "I was having a lio down," ho drawled. "Is this right about the fire?"

THE MAN ON THE SPOT. An employee of Mr. J. M. Paul, of the Otagx) Buffet, named Martin (pantryman) was asleep in a small whare about ton feet from the Buffet whfcu the fire began. Ho' stated that, . about 8 p.m., ho was awakened by. the crashing of glass. He jumped out of bod, and putting on coat, trousers, and slippers ran out to seo what had happened. Observing flames leaping out of the room above the kitchen ho called a man named Anderson, who was sleeping in another whare. Anderson caught up his swag and what clothes he could, and jumped over a fenco at the rear of 'lie Lambton pastry-cook shop, and came down an alleyway out on to lambton Quay. Martin rushed insido tlio building, and, turning on the tap in the bathroom, commenced to throw water on the fire." Ho then secured his box, and what other belongings ho could, and ran out on the Quay. On returning, ho was unable to 1 get down the alleyway, owing to tho flames coming out of the windows. Admittance into the building from tho back was also blocked, as the ceiling in the kitchen had fallen through. However ho managed to call out to Anderson, who had to go to tho re&r of the building to'get oil of his belongings from tho. wliares. The fire was burning fiercely then, and ho and Anderson were unablo to approach tho building again.

i "GOT OUT IN TIME." ' The Buffet is a boardinghouse 1 owned by Messrs. Hall and Knight, and * occupied by Mr. J. M. Paul. Mr. Paul " stated to a Dominion representative that 1 ho was out when the fire occnrrcd, but ! he understood that it originated in room > No. 6, over the . kitchen, which was ' occupied bv a man named Higgins. _ Mrs. 1 Paul and her child wero in the building when the fire occurred, and they only ' just escaped in time. BRIGAOESMEN'3 RISKS. Prom the Bowon Street sido the best view of tho fire was obtainable. Prom ' tlicro it could bo seen what a task tho 1 brigades had, what risks brigadesnion ! run. Tho impenetrable walls of black smoke winch every now and then closed over Lambton Quay and obscured tlio view of the denso crowd looking on did not interfere with tho spectacle as prefented from tho other side, lolling on tho red-hot roofs tho work of the firemen there at tho back was far more dangerous, if not so unpleasant, as tliat of thoso who wore facing the- thick smoko on tho Quay sido. Many a time it looked (to tho layman) sheer folly for tho. men to remain on the roofs. Nothing but foollianlinpss it seemed for them to scramble through a window into Hood's blazing upper story. The iron" roofing grew redhot, and sagged in places, and yet tho firemen remained near by at tljeir posts, playing the forcoful streams of water on to the flames. PREMISES AFFECTED. The Otago Buffet, whoro the outbreak occurred, was tho property of Mr. Henry ITall, solicitor, of Hill Street (of tho legal firm of Hall and Knight). The premises, a two-story wooden building with a frontage of about 18ft., wa9 an extremely old building. Mr. Hall fancies that it must ba at least 40 'years old. For some years it has been used as a buffet and boardinghouse, and prior to that was a licensed house, known as tho Wavorley Hotel (for years kept by tho lato Mr. James Brown). Prior to that it was utilised as the premises of the "Wellington Club. It was insured. Tho adjoining building, which is burnt beyond redemption, and which was occupied by Messrs. Hood Bros, and Mr. E. Grimmett (tea rooms), was for many years 'familiarly known as \V«rnock's (Wnrnoek, Kelly and Adkin), and was at one timo regarded an ouu of (he linost drapery establishments in tho city. A few years ago tho building, which was owned by , Messrs. . Hamilton Gilmer and Allan Maguire, was condemned by the city authorities, but after prolonged litigation tho owners wero permitted to let the

building, subject to certain repairs beina effected. "Tlio Byko" i 3 the property of the Allen Estate, adjoining that building occupied by Mr. L\ E. Tomlinsonasacoiifectioncr'B shop, and for many years in the occupation of Mr. David Wighton, now of Palmcrston North. Mr. Tonilinsou's stock did not suffer from tho flames, but tho wuter obtained entrance through a sido door, and flooded tho floor of tho 6hop. Mr. Toinlinson also stated that his stock had suffered from tho effects of smoko. THE INSURANCES. Tho Otngo Buffet premises were owned by Mr. Henry Hall, of Hall and Knight, solicitors. Tho building ivas insured in tho New Zealand office, but tho amount was not ascertainable last night. There was a policy of .£IOO in tho Liverpool and London and Globo offico on tho boardinghouse furnituro, and Mr. Paul's privato furnituro, piano, and personal effects ivor# insured in tho same offico for .£2OO. Tho insurance on tho stock of Mr. Baudinet, tobacconist, on the ground floor of tho Otago Buffet building, was not available in ? vcn ' n ß- Mr. Hood's drapery and ™'™s stock was insured for £2500 in tho Yorkshire office. Mr Boucher's stock nl "l natures were covered by policies of .£3OO in tho Yorkshire office, and of .iICOO in tho Northern office. Tho Lamblon ion rooms (Mr. M. Grimniett, proprietor) were insured for £275 in tho Royal K\cnango office. Mr. Tomlinson's confectionery stock, which was damaged by smoko and water, was insured for u small amount in the Guardian office. FIRE JOTTINGS. It never rains but it pours. Mr. Allan Maguire was part-owner (with Mr. lianiilfcon Gilmer) of tho big wooden premises destroyed in tho conflagration. It vas only a week last night that his private residence in Uufferin Street was badly damaged by fire. At about 10 o'clock last night, whilst tho full strength of tho brigade was engaged in subduing tho big outbreak on iho Quay, advice of another alarm was conveyed to Superintendent Tait from Hobson Street. A flying brigade was at onco dispatched to tho spot, when it was found that the alarm was a false one.

Somo apprehension was caused by the fact that tho housemaid of tho Otago Buffet, Miss Body, failed to report herself during tho evening, and it was consilored possible that she might have been in tho building. Although the polico had not heard of her'up to an early hour this morning, it may bo presumed that sho is safe. Ono of the occupants of the Buffet was under tho impression that sho liad gone out to ono of the theatres.