ANOTHER FIRE IN GEORGE STREET.

Evening Star, Issue 3377, 16 December 1873, Page 2

ANOTHER FIRE IN GEORGE STREET.

At a few luimites after eleven o'clock last night the fire-bell signalled the breaking out of a fire, which proved to be on the wane side of, but a little further down George sheet than the two late fires in that locality. The theatres and the Masonic Hall were jnst being emptied of their audiences, and the consequence was that a large crowd quickly assembled. A shop of Mr Spicer's, in the occupation of Mr Nicoll, bootmaker, was the scene of the disaster, but, being divided front M l ' Spicer's factory by a brick waif, there was not much danger of its spread' iug on that side. For some little time before the arrival <;uf the main body of the Fire Brigade, the blaze wa,s confined in a small compass to the shop, and two of the firemen, Kobert Anderson and F. Kuril, entered the building, and would perhajis have succeeded in extinguishing if had jt pot boon for some thoughtless people breaking in the windows, This caused a strong draught to fan the flames, which at once sprang up fiercely, and before Anderson could gttaway bis bauds were severely scorched, and the back burnt completely out of his coat. By this time, six minutes after the alarm, the Valley hose-reel had arrived, and being followed immediately by those from the principal station, throe lengths of hose wore laid and the fire was summarily disposed of—not twenty minutes elapsing from its breaking' out to its extinction. As to the origin of the fire Mr Nicoll states that he locked up his shop at about 8.40 p.m. and went to the meeting on the drainage question, and knew of nothing to cause it. His stock he valued at L 450, but it was insured in the Norwich Union Go. for only L2SU -leaving a loss of L2OO. The building and the adjoining vacant one, both belonging to Ml' Spicer, were insured for Ll5O in the New' Zealand Go., but Mr NicoU’s is the onlv one much daipagedj being completely icuttH

We always notice on these occasions that the firemen are greatly hampered by the crowd, and hindered from working freely and with that celerity which is required and which the members of the brigade show they possess. At one time last night a length of hose almost ceased working, and on a fireman going to ascertain the cause, lie found that at least forty people were heedlessly standing upon it. Whether from that cause or not, this length hurst, sending up a jet of spray to the height of thirty feet, and fora time clearing the moh away, hot also enabling the fine to gain ground. We should advocate the establiduncntof afire police, whoso duties would be to keep sufficient working room for the firemen, preserve order, and protect the salvage after a lire. Such a body is enrolled in Christchurch, and has been found to be of great service.