Burning of an Auckland Boardinghouse

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 144, 15 May 1886, Page 2

Burning of an Auckland Boardinghouse

(FEB UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland. May 14. At 5 o'clock this morning a fire broke out in a large three-storey boardinghouse in Queen street, kept by Henry Borsboom. The walls of the house are of brick, but all the partitions of wood. When the fire was discovered it had obtained a strong hold of the lower portion of the building. Borsboom showed great carelessness im directing his employes to save the boarders, but seven, who were unacquainted with the premises, jumped from the third floor, 30ft from the ground. One of them, name unknown, died after being conveyed to the hospital. Edwin Neill, Thomas Orr, John Frosdyke, Hugh McLauohlin, and Alfred Fiuch were all conveyed to the hospital seriously injured. Mrs Borsboom threw her baby out of a window into the arms of Constable McGovern, who caught it. The mother then crawled along the parapet to the adjoining shop, and was rescued by a ladder. Borsboom was insured for £80 in the Hamburg office, and estimates his loss at £SQO over that. The Fire Inspector some time haok reported to the City Council that the building was suitabl. for a boardinghouse. The accidents were oaused by a panic amongst some of the boarders. Borsboom sent the waiters to conduct them downstairs, and some found no difficulty ih getting out. Later. The man who died from injuries at the fire at Borsboom's lodginghouse this morning, has not been identified. Superintendent Thomson had the remains photographed. Edward Neill, aged 30, Joseph Houghton, late steward of the Garloch, andFrosdkye still remain in a critical condition. The Press strongly condemn the City Council for licensing such a house as a boardmghouse, being a perfect man-trap, owing to the narrow passages, staircases, and no fire-escapes.