FIRE IN VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2825, 17 July 1916, Page 6

FIRE IN VICE-REGAL RESIDENCE

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, AUCKLAND. DAMAGED AN HISTORIC BUILDING By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 16. Eight roQius and two corridors of Government House wore destroyed by firo shortly before eight o'clock last night. Appearances indicate that the fire originated near the room occupied by Sir liln Hamilton, when he visited Auckland in May, 1914. Prom point of origin the fire spread back through the private Vicc-Begnl apartments ana down the main staircase. Driven by the wind it enveloped the eastern wing. Interest will attach to the fact that the Duke of Edinburgh's bed—made doubly famous by the protest of Mr. Glover against tho removal of- this historic piece oE carved kauri—escaped almost without injury. It was standing iu the dressing room of His Excellency, and the singeing of the varnish will be easily repaired. Tho dressing room and the other two bedrooms eastward of the Vice-Regal apartments, were damaged considerably. The fire swept down the main stairway, giitting the hall and destroying its furniture. Evidently it was also dri'ven down tho stairway of the western wing. The entrance to the ballroom was slightly injured by the smoke but the ballroom, a separate building, was not damaged. Beneath the centre of the fire the drawing-room is situated, tho other portion of the ground floor, comprising the dining-room. Neither of these apartments were greatly damaged by fire, though the ceiling of the draw-ing-room was burned through in one corner. They were flooded with water, and this morning water was still pouring down from the rooms a.bqyc. All the drawing-room furniture "was staoked in the middle of the room, and was not damaged. Tho dining-room furniture was' removed while tho firo was in progress. Other portions of tho building, including the servants' quarters, were not affected by either fire or water. The damage is estimated at between .£3OOO and .£4OOO.

Auckland Government House is an institution with interesting historical associations. The site, which is near Albert Park, is ono of tho most charmingly situated spots in Auckland. Tho first building was erected about 1813 or 1815, the first Governor tp occupy it being Sir Georgo Grey, who entored npon his first term of Governorship in 1815. The building was destroyed by fire about 1850, whilst Sir George Grey waji in residence there. The new building was commenced in 185-t and was completed alwut the end of 1855. Governor Gore-Browno, who arrived in Soptomber, 1855, • was tho first Governor to occupy the building, Sorn® additions havp been made since that time to the building, which has been occupied by every Governor for varying periods since 1855. The property has been greatly in tho public eye during the past six or seven years, owing to the*controversy that followed unon the proposal made by tho Ward Government, in 1009, to discontinue the maintenance of a Government House in Auckland, and to utiliso the property as a situ for a new university collcge. 'This proposal received tho warm support of tho majority of those interested in university matters in Auckland, but it' was very strongly opposed by a large eection of tho public there, 'i'his counter agitation, in tho end. resulted in tho withdrawal of the Government's proposal, although those who supported tho utilisation .of the site or a portion of it for university purposes have not ceased to strive to attain their ouds. No site for the university college has yet been decided upon, and during tho past fow weeks a tendency to reopen the old controversy has been in cviilcnce. The statement that Saturday night's fire is Kupposad to h&ve originated near the room occupied by Sir lan Hamilton on the occasion of his visit to Auckland, recalls the fact that on the occasion of that visit u. firo, which ofceurrod in tho building on May 11, 19U, broke out below the flooring of the room occupied by .sir Inn Hamilton. Damage to ,'tho extent of about .£2OOO was done on that occasion.