PARLIAMENT HOUSE FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2062, 13 December 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT HOUSE FIRE.

A SPECIAL ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER,

(from our correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 12. Betlweon 2 and 3 o’clock I was awakened by the editor of “The (Dominiou” knocking loudly at my door, which is just across -the street from Parliament House. The glare through ,my bedroom window indicated a large (blaze uncomfortably near at hand. On opening the front door I found the Parliamentary buildings in flames 'between, half-past 2 and 'a quarter to 3. Great tongues of flames were shooting -about the highest pinnacles of itho buildings, and dense volumes of smoko were rolling southward in the gentle breeze. The main body of file lire appeared to Ibe above the Native Interpreter’s loom. ■lll the old wing of the building there is a collection of old matchwood rooms which once ablaze no power on earth could save. Having run out a small hose for some protection to my own house, I rushed across the street and entered the building by (the entrance loading to the Speaker's rooms. Lucas, Mr. Guinness’s faithful messenger, was already busy saving his effects. An inkier door was broken open, and papers, clothes, gowns, and even Itho ifull-hottonied wig, were conveyed ito another place. Going upstairs in the darkness to have a. last look at the old Press room, I (found the arid smoke already beginning to penetrate it, and it was then plain that the whole building must go. Down below the fire ■brigade, who had not enough men for so big a task, were getting to work. Among those assisting 1 noticed Captain iStewart, of the DPateena, acting with all the coolness of one horn to command. Messrs. Gilloland and 'Brindon, of the Hansard staff, were early on the scene, and wo made a. hurried visit to the supervisor’s room, from which they secured some important papers.. Seeing by this time that the whole of the wooden building was doomed, I rushed down to the room of the second clerk’s assistant, in the hope of saving (the journals of the House of Representatives for last session, which I knew Mr. Law had been busily engaged upon of late. With the assistance of a messenger I broke open his roll-top .desk, hut there was no sign of the two volumes of journals. It appears that Mr. Law had only the previous day finished' the work, and had sent the books up for copying to an tipper story room, where by this time they were well within the danger zone. The drawers, liowe-ver, contained the full notes made by the Clerk of the (House up to'the last idav of the session, and (these I carried across to by own house. They constituted the only records from which the journal of the House for 1907 can he made, but Mr. Law might have nearly all his tedious work to do over again. I also secured a full list' of the accounts and alj. The House of Representatives’ vouchers for last session payments, which will save a great deal of trouble in some of the departmental offices. Amongst other salvage from this desk was some £7O worth of stamps and 'all the original House of Representatives’ division lists for last session. These lists are of considerable value, for notwithstanding the fact that they are published in Hansard, the originals are very often referred -to. All the reports for journals of the House in committee and the original divition lists in committee were in another room, and have been -destroyed. The journal of - the committee proceedings for 1907 will therefore suffer considerably, and members will have ito depend upon the meagre account which is embalmed an Hansard. On such items as the Tariff Bill and the Land Bill, these records -would prove of great -value to -Parliamentarians. Amongst those who were very early on the scene I noticed the Hon. .Mr. McGowan, who had evidently made a. very hurried toilet, and Mr. -Matthews, his private secretary, who having the keys of the . Cabinet rooms was able-with the as-'-sistanco of -some ot-hers-to get- pretty well everything the Premier liad there to -a- place of safety. 'Mr. Donne, -manager of the Tourist Department, -Mr. -Maoalister (formerly one of Mr. Seddon’s secretaries), and Dr. Hay, head of the Department of Mental ■Hospitals, were amongst others who -worked very hard saving papers arm books. Messrs. Reeves and Grealisk, of itho Post’s Parliamentary staff, made a dash for the Press room just as the flames were bursting into it, and saved nearly all the cherished memories of bygone years in the shape of the gallery pictures that -adorned the walls. As -I took a last- look at the wellremembered steps leading -to the gallery I was surprised -to hear the division hell -going. The wires had fused in contact, and the old, tired, clanging hell tlia-t had put up -a record performance during last session -was sounding its last alarm. One almost expected to hear the well-known voice of Mr. Fiatman, the former Whip, or Messrs. Kidd and Colvin, shouting as they left the Chamber and walked down the lobbies’ vision to look down on Mr. Speaker. One almost expected -tt> hear him calling in clear, resonant tones, “The ayes will go to the right; the noes to the left,” and to see the faithful commons following -Sir Joseph Ward or Mr. Massey out through the side •doors as they settled for the time being some momentous question in the history of the Dominion. But the chamber was empty, save -for smoke, and it -was not the figure of the -Clerk but the finger of leaping flame that was ringing the beW for the last time. The ghosts of departed members miv have hovered -about the chamber for a while as it went -heavenward in smoke, but it -was with the crackling of old' timbers and the clatter of fallen glass that tlio loir lobby now rang, instead of with tlio laughter and song of -members in a merry mood. Just -after dawn was breaking I took four photographs of the burning building from -different points of view. The first of these, which I have developed, shows plainly that -by -that time a considerable portion oi' the roof of the front wooden building oil; the south, which is three stories high, had fallen in, and -thatthe fire -was just bursting through the windows and weatherboard of the- wooden portion- that faces Moles-worth-street. ■ The negative shows'that several of ■the windows in the upper stories had gone. The firemen are playing stream water above the Speaker’s rooms and on. tiie lawn behind the -majestic marble statue of John Ballance is a heterogeneous collection of office furniture and Parliamentary papers and hooks. Later on a whole battery of all sorts and sizes of cameras were at work. When the fire was it its height it was from a spectator’s point of view a magnificent sight-. The centre of tlho great pile of buildings roared like the throat of a volcano, dense volumes of -black smoke belched out, and long leaping flames lit up the scene, sparks, flying showers to southward, alarming women who bad come out in scant attire, and threatening Government House with destruction. Those in charge had -a Drying time in their efforts to preserve the building. Flakes of fire fell on the house and among the trees. The fence at the tennis court was ignited, and it was feared at one time the laundry and other outbuildings would go. Sergeant Harwell, orderly at Government House, got the hoses out as soon as it was seen the outbreak at Parliament buildings was serious. Then Captain Hennah, who was at the Government buiklin-gs, came over and took charge. Hoses were kept continually playing on the Sydneystreet side of the house, where, notwithstanding the intervening garden, the heat from the fire avas intense. Soa-enil trees caught fire, and also , ; grass in places, hut Mr. McKay. I head gardener, and his tons looked 1

after the grounds, although they had - an uncomfortable time by reason ol the shower of sparks and burning papers which descended in a tierce ram. -As the fire gained in strength and volume there was a great noise oi crashing glass, breaking beams, anil ; toppling chimneys. The water played Oil it ail’d went off in steam. The -firemen climbed to the dizzy heights and worked with great brav- , Presently one was seen staggering along the side building. His face was lived and he could scarcely stand. Soon ho was in the care oi Iriendly hands, and was taken into a chemisfc’s near by. He had fallen through a floor or from a height., arid was bruised and badl’.y burnt about the hands and face. High above, another man was working with his branch. Tlio front building gable swayed and tottered. In its fall it struck a chimney top, which came crashing down. The crowd called out in alarm, and the fireman, turning to retreat, tripped and fell, the bricks clattering down about linn, but strangely enough lie was not touched. Whilst the building was stil smouldering and the hoses were still, plaving, I made 1 , a totir oi inspection along the old familiiTr paths My companion was Mr. Smith, ot the Public Works Department, who lias known the buildings ever since Ins boyhood. , We dived under a shower of warm water spattered down from the second floor 'and mto the main lobby—a scene of charred timbers, haltburned pictures, blackened water, and lumps of moist plaster. . At the end w r e looked for the late Queen’s picture, a replica of the Jubilee one presented by few-J. Hai.l at a cost of some hundreds of pounds. There was no trace of it. On the right the rooms of the Government and Opposition whips, ,ni which members were wont to congregate for party chat, were desolate, charred, and sodden. Bellamy’s was almost indescernible. It was a weird tangle of great broken beams and iron roofing, twisted by the heat into strange shapes. The semicircular bar was piled up with a mass of fallen plaster and charcoal debris. The custodian had dug down through another mass to the cellar, where choice brands of cigars and casks were swimming in blackened water. His own room, stilfl marked “strictly private,” stared agape with all privacy a thing of the past. • The clock at the further end of the lobby still ticked on, and told tlie right time. These portions of the building were within the walls of bride. Beyond them the green drapery of the House of Representativs’ Chamber and red drapes of the Legislative Council Chamber had vanished altogether. As we picked our way back through the lobby the blaze broke out again overhead. A fireman turned his branch on, and made flaming timbers; his target. Up the fine broad stairway of the new building we went somewhat, anxiously, for the beautiful glass dome overhead was badly shattered, and the steps were strewn with fallen plaster. In the room of the Chairman of Committee (Mr. Roderick McKenzie) the bound journals of Hansard and the Statutes were not badly damaged. Mr McNab’s room, on the -right, was a melancholy spectacle'of wreckage. Here were some previous early historical records. If they are in a charred wooden box which I could see on the floor they may still he deciphered. but we could not get at tlie box of the failling debris. Tlie Parliamentary hooks in the big bookcase were standing in black and melancholy array. The room was just beyond the wall of the fire-proof building. Next door, Mr. Massey’s room was roofless, and its floor a mass of bricks and bent- and charred roofing iron. Of Mr .Carroll’s room and of Dr. Findlay’s there was not a vestige left. With the Legislative Council went up in flame and smoke many books and documents, and some historic paintings of such men as Featlier-i stone and Waterhouse, whose names)' are writ in the larger page of colo-j nal history. Another valuable pieg ture that is gone is that of Dr. Olias.) Clifford, the first Speaker of the\ House of Representatives. It hung) for many years just over the old,, liorse-hair sofa of the Press gallery.f and many a sleepy pressman in “the wee sma hours ayont the twal” used to ivonder why it was not put in a safer place.

HUMOR OF THE TRAGEDY.

(Specially written by Mils. Malcolm

Ross.)

Awe inspiring as the conflagration was, there were many touches of comedy for those who had time and inclination to notice them. Various costumes were a feature of the crowd. Herp a girl in leather motor coat, a pink fascinator tied over her curling pins, and bare feet thrust into bath (flippers, discussed the situation with a man in a scarlet dressing gown and peeps of pyjamas above his canvas shoes. Hurry seemed the chief reason of the quaint garbs, and maidens who usually appear with every glossy tress in place had apparently snatched two hasty hairpins, skewered their hair up, and fled to the fire, dropping one hairpin oil the way. It was dark when the fire broke out, and in the glare their bizarre costume did not matter. But the red dawn fired the east a lovelier prototype of the raging flame, and as the light grew clearer one looked at neighbors, and wondered why everyon looked 6uch scarecrows. A damsel in a pink opera coat over an elaborate robe de liuit, who had formed a brilliant spot in the crowd, Slipped home to don more comfortable attire, and the man in a tartan dressing gown found the light of common day toq strong for him. _

It was the best matured and most orderly of crowds, though there was no tendency to merriment as it watched the historical pile ablaze. Every house around had its windows crowded with eager faces, and from the Terrace gardens and high walls heads watched.

The policemen kept excellent order, and their dignity and impressivenss were quite in proportion to the extent of the. calamity. One white-haired Irishman was perhaps just a little excited. He came to my door and said, “Have ye a telephone?” in so fierce a tone that 1 was' if most afraid to admit 1 had. Ho got the list and then said, “Here, misthress, you’ve got bother eyes than me, find the number.” He put on his spectacles to ring up, and tried again and again in a tone that grew more melesian at every repetition. At last lie gave up. “Tliry it yeself,” be said, “and tell the carrier to send two or three telephones to the Government building.” With that he rushed from the house and was lost to sight. Fortunately I knew what he wanted, and revised his mesago. The poor muddled man wanted two or three expresses for Parliament Buildings. When it was decided that the books should be taken out a horde of volunteers offered, and boys and men trotted with armfuls of various literature between library and the first house in Hill street, used last session as tile law drafting office. Various means were used to carry the books. Tin baths, buckets, baskets, and trays were all pressed into service. A touching sight was a huge policeman with a small library trolley laden with hooks. The man was so big and the bandies so low that he was iTmost doubled up, and so zealous bad he been that bis trolley was overladen, and books kept falling off and having to be put on. He could have more easily carried the trolley, books, and all. The procession of hook carriers was quaintly, varied. Heads of Departments hustled, lumpers and the men about town trotted after the übiquitous small boy, but whether tinker, tailor, sdldier or sailor each was the embodiment of eager service and hearty goodwill. Meanwhile our pretty drawing room was fast assuming the appear-

anco of an untidy second-hand shop, and my front garden was decorated with a variety of X’arliamentary belongings. I lifted a typewriter from flic top of a favorite plant, and carried it inside. Just outside the door were two pictures, both of the fate Premier, one of large size the fine painting of Tennyson Cole It almost seemed if the great statesman should have his face turned to where the arena of his many triumphs was disappearing in a glory ol flame instead of being ignominious!} turned to the wall. , . , , Inside was a distinguished company, for the Princess of \\ af.es rubbed shoulders with Sir Julius Vogel, and the huge frame containing the veteran statesman giants of earlier polities was side by side with a portrait of Sir Goo. Grey. J)ra ”'f'a brimming with documents were piled on the floor. More typewriters kept company with my-first discovery, and leather 'satchels stuffed with papers lav about. A cheque book and a cash hook decorated the piano. It was the weirdest medley, in tho middle of which we drank our early morning tea, the earliest morning tea and the most welcome we had ever known. Even the milkman was not abroad, but a medical man of recourse managed to get somewhere a phial of milk, 'and was allowed two cups for his enterprise. NEW EXAMINATION PAPERS NECESSARY. (Special to Times.) , WELLINGTON, Dec. 12. Mr Joynt, Registrar of the hew Zealand University, informs me all inspections of Wellington candidates for matricuiiation and junior scholarships papers for Monday and Tuesday last were destroyed in the fire, for die matriculation examination fresh papers will be set for Wellington candidates only. In regard to the scholarships examination, which is a competition one, the position is different. Fresh papers will have to be set for the whole of hew Zealand on the subjects taken on Monday and Aiesday J last. All candidates will within the next few days receive a circular bearing on the subject. The new examinations will be held on Monday and Tuesday, 20th and 21st January. MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY. Press Association. INVERCARGILL, Dec. 12. In reference to the loss of Parliamentary Buildings, the Prime Minister has received the following telegram of sympathy from Mr. Bent, Premier of Victoria: — Tb?- Government and Parliament of Victoria 6\ro to express deep sympathy the Ministry and Parliament of-New Zealand in the irreparable national loss sustained by the people of th Dominion, through the destruction of Parliament buildings, and valuable treasure.’ * The following cable has been received from the High Commissioner: "‘All New Zealanders are grieved to hear of the destruction of Parliament buildings.” . , . .. „• ■ A message received by the irime Minister through the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies states: “Have learned with .rreat regret of the destruction of Parliament buildings by fire. Glad to infer from press telegrams that no lives have been lost, but deplore loss of valuable records and property, and the inconvenience whack has been caused to the Dominion and the Legislature by tlio misfortune.The Premier sent suitable messages in reply.

MINISTERS INUNDATED WITH CONDOLENCES. DUNEDIN, Dec. 12. During yesterday and to-day the Prime Minister has been inundated with wares from all parts of New Zealand also from Australia andXondon conveying sympathy in the loss sustained by th© Dominion by the destruction of Parliamentary buildings. In additions to the messages received from Lord Elgin, the Hon. W. P. -Reeves, and the Hon. T. Bent, the Hon. Mr. Wade (Premier of New South Wales) sent the following message: “The Government md people of New South Wales offer deepest sympathy with the Parliament and people of New Zealand re destruction of your Parliamentbuildings, so rich is association to the citizens of the Dominion.” The Premier received the following message from Superintendent Hugo this evening:—-“Your kind telegram was read to- members of the Brigade and Fire Police at the roll call, and your recognition of their efforts at the late disastrous fire was much appreciated, while they deeply regret that their efforts were not. more successful.”