THE FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2177, 29 April 1870, Page 2

THE FIRE AT GREYMOUTH.

(From the Evening Star.) On the morning of the 19th inst., at about a quarter-past four o’clock, the fire-bells at the Fire Brigade Hall, and at the bell-tower in Tainui street, rung out an alarm. As is always the case on these dread occasions, there was much consternation and terror both felt and expressed ; for a town which is entirely built of the most inflammable materials, and the buildings of which are closely huddled together with very few breaks of space between them, there is no knowing where the mischief will end or what the result. This time, as in the case of the last destructive conflagration, the wind blew from down the gorge. Had it been in the opposite direction, we have no hesitation in saying that the enormous block of buildings from Boundary street to Gilmer’s corner would have been reduced to ashes. The fire broke out at the rear of a building in Boundary street, occupied by two tenants. One of these was Mr Kittelty, bootmaker, and the other by Miss M'Naughton, milliner. Although occupied as two tenements, these were in reality only separated by a thin partition of canvas and paper, and it is this which has given rise to a doubt, amounting indeed to a warm dispute as to whether the tire broke out at the bootmaker’s or the milliner’s shop. The inquiries made by Mr Wball confirm the opinions expressed by those likely to be best informed on the matter, that the fire broke out at the rear of Miss M'Naughton’s shop. This, however, for the present is of little moment; for within a few minutes after the flames burst forth the double tenement, was expiring in its own flames; but not until it again ignited the side and end wall of the Argus newspaper and jobbing office. Although a very large amount of valuable type, plant, stationery, and other printing property have fallen a sacrifice to the flames, the loss to the proprietary would have been infinitely greater had it not have been that it was the morning of the publication of the paper, and consequently there were a number of the employees of the establishment on the [spot who rendered prompt assistance in removing what property there was time to save. Much property was saved, but it is to be feared that much more was lost. There was a valuable printing machine, which had been only lately landed on the wharf, and which had come out to the order of the firm from England. It had not been working more than three or four days when the building in which it had been placed was burnt over and under it. It is [believed, however, that the machine—a very valuable one —will be saved. The Argus offices and printing rooms were burned to the ground, not a vestige of the building remaining. The building adjoining fthe Argus office was the Boundary Hotel, which for so long a period was kept by Mr Harry Hope, but had only a few days back changed ownership ; it was a two storeyed one. Long before the roof of the printing establishment had fallen in, the fiames had communicated to the hotel, and such was the inflammable character of the materials with which it had been con. structed, and so direct did a strong breeze of wind, which sprung up at the time, blow directly on to the side walls, that almost in the twinkling of an eye, or ere one had time to cease to womhr, the hotel had fallen to the ground a mass of burning debris During all this time the members of the fire brigade, under the direction of Captain Whall and his officers, did their work most gallantly. It was at the time the Boundary Hotel was in flames that Captain Whall directed that the house next but one to it. and which had lately been occupied by Mr Levinski, the photographist, should be pulled down. It was suggested to Mr Whall that the building next to the Boundary Hotel, instead of the building next but one to it, should be removed but this he refused to do; In the first place, Levinski’s house was empty, and a clean' way through was more easily made to the rear than by Mr Winsch’s, which was next door to the burning hotel. It was shown afterwards that the Captain of the Brigade had acted both well and wisely, for the fire was stopped from committing any further ravages, and all the damage which subsequently occurred was owing to the occupants of contiguous buildings destroying the walls, windows, and doors of their tenements in attempting to remove their property. Undue excitement on such an occasion was certainly most pardonable, for it was indeed difficult to s y udiere the conflagration was likely to end. The premises of Mr Brockley, the tinsmith, were much damaged ; and much of the furniture with which Mr Winsch’s (the furniture dealer) shop was stocked received much injury. The National Hotel, also, was much injured, and the removal of property and furniture had been so hastily done, that the proprietress of the hotel will be a serious loser. The London Butchery, which is at the corner of Boundary and Mackay streets, suffered considerably from the removal of property. It was 4 30, or thereabouts, when the tire-bells rung the alarm, and by eight o'clock, so great and successful were the efforts made by the officers and members of the Fire Brigade, that the conflagration was subdued to the smouldering of a few rafter ends and fallen studs. To the forethought of Mr E. Wickes in being instrumental some weeks ago in causing a feedpipe to be sunk in Boundary street, whereby a continued supply of water was at once ready for use upon the hosepipe being attached may in a great measure be attributed the salvation of an immense amount of valuable property ; and it is the same gentleman who has from time to time urged upon the residents in other neighborhoods to adopt the same prudent precautions. The damage done by tne fire as near as can be estimated, is about L3OOO.

Great praise is awarded to the local firebrigade, and very deservedly, for the manner in which it worked. The diggers too; lent invaluable assistance, and worked at the engines without intermission. The Star writes strongly about the town loafers—there are such good-for-nothing fellows everywhere—who refused to lend the slightest assistance. Our contemporary tells its how two women shocked at the indifference «f these men, stepped forward, and helped to carry out the printing paper from the A rgus office, when it caught fire. After such an example the men must have been hardhearted if they did not assist.