THE FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3334, 27 October 1873, Page 3

THE FIRE AT AUCKLAND.

{From the Star, October !•'.) This morning, shortly after the hour of twelve had been tolled by the town clock, an alarm of fire was rung out from the city bells. The weatb r was very boisterous, a strong N.E. gale, blowing, accompanied by heavy downfalls of rain. The first note of alarm, given by the belief the New Zealand Insurance Company, was taken up almost instantaneously by the bell at the junction of Wakefield and Grey streets. The locality of the conflagration was soon discovered to bo a narrow lane leading from Fort street into Customhouse street, and giving a back entrance to the large brick stores on the east side of Lower Queen street. The bail lings abutting on this street were mostly of brick, and were used for storage. The constab’e on duty neir the block was the first to discover indications of tire, his attention being drawn by a strong glare in Mr J. S. Macfarlane’s back store, from which smoke was issuing in thick volumes. This store was filled with flax, cotton seed, and other combustible materials, which burned very fiercely with an almost unquenchable flame and intense heat. In the meantime the flames had not only gained a firm hold of the building where the fire originated, hut had extended to the brick store adjoining, 0.-.cupied by Messrs Henderson and Maefarlane. The tire had originated near the dividing wall between J. S, Macfarlane’s and Henderson and Macfarlane’s stores, and on the side next the Queen street premises. Constables Gordon and Satchwell. accompanied by Messrs Armstrong and Philips, were tirst on the scene, and broke into Mr J. S, Macfarlare’s back store, where they found several bales in a blaze, and the fire very widely spread. 1 here was no damaged cotton from the Lady Bowen, as stated iu this morning’s Cross, in J. S. Macfarlane’s store, but a quan ity of island cotton and cotton seed were stored on the second flat, where the fire originated, and it is believed it was in the seed that the flames were engendered, and that the flax and cotton in the same room next caught. Messrs J. S. Macfarlane’s and Henderson acd Macfarlane’s back stores were completely enveloped in flames before any real efforts could he made to stay the progress of the fire. There was an ample supply of water. The wind blew the flames on to the backs of the front ato.es diagonally, and carried flakes of fire towards the stores of Mesjrs E. and H. Isaacs, H. S. Meyers, and the Metropolitan Hotel, which so narrowly escaped during the fire at the Post-office. Messrs G. W. Binney’s, Highley’s, and Eaton's stores were iu imminent danger, while the fate of J. S. Macfarlane’s and Henderson and Macfarlane’s front stores, and Stone Brothers’ store was sealed. The back windows had several times caught, but were extinguished again, until the charred and blackened frames became a mass of flames, ami a fiery tongue ■was driven through tie window of Mr J. S. Macfarlane’s store, and set fire to the goods inside. About the same time the tire had taken firm hold of Henderson and Macfarlaae’s store. THE lIKKJHT OK THE KIRK. About one o’clock the fire which bad been raging unchecked iu the interior of Messrs J. S. Macfarlane’s and Henderson and Macfarlane’s buildings, broke out into Queen-street through the doorway and office-window of J. g. Macfarlane’s store. The building occupied by Stone Brothers, which was built partly of wood and partly of brick, now caught fire, and the flames extended to the” roofs of the buildings, and the whole city was illuminated with the reflection of the fire, although the night before the outbreak was intensely dark. The firemen worked hard, but their jets were almost useless against the immense body of flames forming the centre of the conflagration, and the ciiicf attention was directed to the 'saving of adjoining premises. Messrs Thornton, Smith, and Firth’s engine was got to work and rendered good service. Through its agency the premises of Mr G, VV. Bmney were Undoubtedly saved. The force of water burst the hose repeatedy. f ftorts wore made to preserve the buildings higher up Quceh street Mr Highley’s store contained 1,000 ba</9 of maize, 100 sacks of potatoes, and a quantity of Hoar, bacon, cheese &e. J his was much damaged by water and removal ]n the same building was Air Blacks bout and shoe warehouse, ho having removed to those premises after being burned out five weeks ago. His goods were mostly removed, and much damaged. Of the block between Mr Binney’s and Fort street, the Metropolitan hotel, which is the only wooden buildihg of the block, perhaps stood in the most danger. It on Hro several tunes, large

flakes falling on the roof and igniting the shingles, which are very much damaged. Ihe furniture and premises were deluged with water, and ware thus saved from fire a f the cost of being almost ruined by flool. This is tho fifth time that this building has been surrounded by fire, and yet escap’d. Messrs Fj. andH. Isaac’s store in Forth street, at one time was threatened ; but through the exertions of those about the protui-es, and a plentiful of water, it also was saved. On the lower side of the centre of the lire, adjoining Henderson and Macfarlane’s store, was Mr L. W. Eaton’s, consisting of front and back stores. Tho back store caught fire, and was quickly burned to the ground, but the front store fortunately esciped. Next to this was the U.S.N.Z, fruit depot, which several times caught fire, but was extinguished by the exertions of a number of willing volunteers. The precaution was taken to remove a quantity of powder from the store of Captain Anderson to the magazine on board the barque Lady Bowen. The stores alongside Customhouse street were also threatened, and Avcre the scene of very active exertions. Mr H. B. Morton’s store was probably saved through salt spread over the timber by Mr H. Isaacs. FALL OF WALLS. After the fire had burned for about an hour in Mr J. 8. Macfarlane’s store the south wall fell with a crash upon thereof of Messrs Stone Brothers store, then blazing fiercely within, Thereof, of course, gave way, and suhdiu d the flames for a few minutes, which, however, broke forth with greater force almost directly afterwards, and it was seen that there was no hope of saving the building. Mr Leaning’s, tinsmith’s shop, was rapidly consumed, and Mr G. W. Binncy 8 s'ore stood for a while m the hauinc '. Tho upper storeys of this building caught iopeatcdly at the back window, and the fire came through and destroyed a quantity of furniture and p rsonal effects. It also kept breaking out on tho roof. The store was full of goods, and had it gone, two of onr local insurance companies would have suffered very serious loss. By half-pa'-t two it svas seen that the extension of the fire in a southerly direction had been completely chocked. A little before two o’clock the stone coping along tho front of the building fell with snoh force aa to cut through the flagstones and imbed itsel■ in the pathway nearly a foot. The mass fell in one block the length of the building, and seemed almost to remain intact whore it dropped. TKo remainder of the wall was stranped with iron and consequently still remains firm. DICOLINE r, E THE FIRE. By three o’clock it Avas certain the fire was got under, and although the igniting of new combustibles mid the strong wind fanned it into tierce flames every noAv and again throughout the night, and this morning, there was no real danger of its spreading to the new buildings. It is a matter for sincere regret that those stores, winch were amongst the most substantial in the city, should have been destroyed. The stocks burned were large and valuable. REPORTED LOSS OF LIFE UNTRUE. A number of persons were employed in the upper stores removing goods, and Avore compelled to retire owing to the dense smoke Rumours Avere circulated in consequence to the effect that some had been suff icated, and being unable to retire Avore emsumed in the flames. These reports Avere strengthened by being giA’en publicity to in this morning s Crons, and caused unnecessary alarm in town. They are, Ave find on careful inquiry, wholly groundless. We learn, however, that the shipping reporter of that j mrnal, regardless of danger, was very diligently searching for something- -helieA'ed to have been a whisky cask —when be AA r as discovered and borne insensible from the scene, in a sail cloth, in which be had enveloped his manly form Beyond this thrilling incident Ave are not aware of any accidents worthy of chronicling, although there were the narrow escapes that invariably attend fires. When the smoke became, so choking as to threaten the suffocation of those engaged on the upper 11 its of the stores, there can. be no question that several persons avouW have borne out the Gross’s assert’ons by becoming insensible it they had not Geared out ; but, having respect for their lives, they promptly took the most advisable course and left. It is also true that had they remained u til the floor fell in, they Avonld have been roasted alive, but this also they naturally objected to do, and therefore betook themselves to safe quarters. THE NEXT MORNING. The scene this morning at daylight was very saddening. It could not be said, as in the case of the late fire, that the ravages of the element had only destroyed what was unsightly and old. Here Avere some of the finest buildinj s in the city reduced to a mass of smoking ruins. At eight o’clock dense volumes of thick smoke Avere issuing from the ruins, in the midst of Avhich jets of flame were here and there to be discerned. Tho large quantities of kauri gum and flax which Avere consumed gave the flames an inexhaustible supply of fuel. ihe gum which iu a ha’f consumed state lay this morning on the site of Henderson and Macfarlnne’a store, seemed to have melted down into a caked the liquid gum running through into Eaton’s store tilot the tiro Ai a'■ spread in that direction, The total destruction of such substantial brick buildings as Henderson and Maefarhme’s, and J. Macfarlane’s stores was very remarkable, and eau only be attributed to the intense heat from the nnflammable materials on the spot. The interiors of both are completely gutted.