HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1921, 2 November 1906, Page 3

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL.

FIRE AND WATER. (By Penuloi’k. Wellington, Oct. 28. This has been a week of various excitements, and for two or throe days the city was in a state of much perturbation, for no one knew where the next outbreak might 00, while tiie absence of water made the possibility of a the a very terrible catastrophe A telephone message before dawn brought us to tho spot, and, like others, dressing in record time to go into the dark, we were hardly prepared for tho rising of the sun, which, when it did arrive, saw all sorts of queer costumes. Me Mackenzie, the member for Ciutha, was in a red plaid dressing-gown, and a felt hat A girl in slippers and no stockings had immaculate kid gloves, and her luxuriant hair done up with two hairpins. She promptly lost two on her race to tire lire, and hail to borrow two from a friend. Girls and men whom, in smart evening dress, wo had talked to at Government House on Saturday night, were unrecognisable in hurried and piece-meal at* tire. But a common danger dispenses with ceremony, arid everyone talked to everyone, and joined in tho common chorus of horror and dismay, Those who lived in the houses just above the Tiro especially Dr Findlay and Mr Field—were in great danger, and at one time it seemed impossible tiie buildings could bo saved. And, if they had gono, whole terraces of houses would have been burnt. Dr Findlay was in Sydney, but Mrs Find* lay was equal io the emergency, She loaded her two motors with valuables, and sent them trips to a place of safety, Tho doctor has a splendid library, and had it been destroyed, it would have been an irreparable loss, But though every room will require re-furnishing and decorating, tho house was saved The garden, of course, is temporarily ruined, and the fences arc burnt. To those ill in bed—and thoro is much sickness at present in Wellington—Tuesday aud Wednesday were very trying days. For the iirebell rang out constantly, and no one knew where a concealed spark mignt not be smouldering. A minor misfortune wa3 tlio want of wator on what is usually recognised as tho washing day of the week Indeed many people knew nothing of the catastropho till thoy found the water cut off, and realised that, wliilo they were having their early cup of tea, offices, banks and hotels were being destroyed. The Inspector of the Union Bank was among those who heard the news after the fire had wrought its evil will, Strange to say, both tho Union Bank and the Now Zealand Insurance were on the eve of erecting new promises, A sequel to the fire was the flood caused by taps being turned on while the water was cut off, and then forgotten In quite a number of houses and some shops, notably the Economic and Hannah’s boot shop there was much damage done,