DISASTROUS FIRE AT AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2149, 15 May 1914, Page 8

DISASTROUS FIRE AT AUCKLAND

GOVERNMENT HOUSE ABLAZE WESTERN WING DESTROYED VICE-RECAL FIRE-FIGHTERS. (By Telegraph.—Prese Association.) Auckland, May 14. Government House, one ot the-oldest and -most historic buildings hi Auckland, was the scene of a disastrous (ire this morning, the western wing of the Yice-flegal residence being' practically destroyed. The outbreak occurred iii a bedroom which had been occupied last night by Sir lau Hamilton, and the alarm was given while His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Live! , ' pool, Sir lan Hamilton, and the Gov* eminent. House staff were at breakfast. The building, which is of wood, has always been considered to present a bis; tire risk, and it speaks, relumes for tho efficiency of the -city fire brigade that the fire itself was never allowed to assume serious proportions.' When the brigade arrived flames were breaking through the wall, and tlto windows of the guest-room, and sniako was befchiiig forth through the windows oE Their Excellencies' bedrooms. Steady streams of water were played on the outbreak, and it was not long before the firemen had tho upper-hand. Actual damage was done by tire in three rooms, but smoke, heat, and more particularly water, resulted in great damage being done- to the principal half of the building. The damage, it is expected, will approximate several thousand paaiids. It is fortunate that the fire did not occur earlier, as last evening over 400 guests were present at a bait given by the Governor and the Countess of Liverpool in honour of Gsftefal 'Sir lan Hamilton. Tho Vice-Regal residence is onlv in occupation for a fen- 'months at "this period of tho year, and this morning's iiro _ will necessitate aa alteration in Their Excellencies' arrangements, as the building is no longer habitable. As soon as it was known that the fire had caused such damage, Mr. Nathan placed his residenco at tho disposal of tho Vice. Hegal party. Discovery of the Outbreak. A carpenter was elided in removing the verandah awnings Which, harl provided additional shelter for tlto dancing guests overnight,- when ho became sensible of tho prevalence of siii.oke, A hurried survey revealed an outbreak from an upstairs window in tho northwest comer of the building, and he immediately voiced a loud alarm. The signal was heard by the Government House party just as they met preparing to sit down to the morning ir.ea* s and also by members of tho house staff, tho result being that tbo whole- household was thrown into a state of confu* eion, but this was only of momentary duration, for the presence <)f mind displayed by His Exeelleuej th'« Governor, the Countess of Liverpool, members of the Vice-Regal staff, and Sir lan Hamilton, generally served as si steadying influence. In a very few minutes the City Firft Brigado arrived in two motors, and went smartly to work. Tkiir strenuous efforts .were- productive of excellent results, as in about a quarter of an lioiir they had the fire well in hand. While tho brigado had been thus 'engaged, members of tbohouso- party mid staff j led by His Excellency :,, tho Governor, had displayed remarkable energy in removing the personal effects and furnishings from tho burning building, fho largo drawing-room'was'stripped'of its hoavy contents whilo tho ceilijsg 'was burning briskly. , The Wakfost-reom was similarly cleared. His Excellency's private office adjoining the drawing-room ,was relieved of valuables, in tho nature of/ privato papers, etc., asd from tho windows of the upstairs bedrooms -there j came quite a fusillade of various articles, both singly and in bundles. The. gravelled pathways and lawfts were soon strewn with piles of personal and household effects, which, ajDar-t from , tho rough handling to which they were of necessity submitted, sustained wore or less damage from the water that was flung back from the burning building. Bluejackets to the Rescue. Within half an hour of the outbreak a party of fifty bluojacltets e-itmo to the assistance of tho Viae*Hegal party, having run at-the-double from H.M.S. Psyche, now berthed in tho harbour.' It was only then that the member's of the house party ' relaxed the .efforts whiok they had put forth so sirentiously in removing the contents of the building, In this work it should be said thero were none more active thail the Earl of Liverpool, the members of his staff, and his guests, Sir lan Hamiiton, and Captain Foljambe. The bluejackets smartly set about the removal of the awnings. Several firenren also remained ■in charge of Deputy-Supertetendont Wilson after the main body d tlio brigade had returned to the station at 9.45. ■ Tho City Electrical Department, after an examination, attributes ths fife to a defective chimney which was in use last night. Altogether thero are some 35 rooms in tho building, which is divided into' wings. It was the western wring iii wliich the Vice-Regal party was mainly housed, and it was in this wing , in which, all tlio damage was done,