PIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 557, 31 March 1876, Page 2

PIRE IN WELLINGTON.

{Nero Zealand, Times , March 27.) The Empire Hotel was attacked by fire early yesterday morning, and narrowly escaped being burned to the ground. Indeed, all that remains of it now is little better than a wreck. Strange to say, this fire, arising in the heart of the city, and consequently imperilling property of enormous value, was witnessed by comparatively speaking, few of the townspeople. Whether people sleep sounder at the latter end of the week than at other times, or whether they were unusually influenced by somnolency during Saturday night and the small hours of Sunday morning, is a matter upon which no particular light can be thrown. Certain it is, however, that the alarm bells were not heard by hundreds who were greatly surprised to hear yesterday varied accounts of a conflagration which had consumed the fashionable hotel of Wellington. How the fire originated nobody knows. Conjectures are numerous, but the variety and extent of them do not at all make a solution of the question easy. On the contrary, the variety of opinions expressed has a tendency to create hopeless confusion of mind. The direction in which the fire originated, however, is known, being in a corner of Messrs Turnbull’s store next to the Empire Hotel, and on the ground floor. This store contained two cargoes of American goods of a miscellaneous description, together with some other property. In the corner alluded to there had been deposited the day before the fire took place, or quite recently, a quantity of oats and some damaged fruit. The discovery of the fire was materially delayed, owing to its being confined at first to an uninhabited store, and at a time when all people were at rest, save the police on their regular beats and others who have special duties to perform during the hours generally allotted for sleep. There had been no indication of a fire in the locality up to within a few moments of its discovery by one of the housemaids, who was sleeping in a room on the ground floor, the wall of which was next to Turnbull’s store. She was awakened by smoke that had filled her room, and arising, heard a peculiar kind of noise, which she rightly judged to be caused by fire, and rushing to the night porter, Murray, made him acquainted with her fears. Murray at once gave the alarm by ringing the house bell—this in order to arouse the people in the house. Having done so, he proceeded to knock up the sleepers, and the second cook was despatched to give the alarm. Murray then went outside to ascertain where the fire was. He found clouds of smoke issuing from the side of Turnbull’s store, and subsequently saw flames. To get out the hose was the work of a moment, but there be was brought to a standstill. There was no water, at least it had been turned off the night before to half pressure, and some fifteen minutes elapsed before the full pressure could be brought to bear upon the building. By this time the brigades arrived. They turned out with that promptitude which on other occasions has gained them golden opinions, and for which indeed they are generally remarkable. The Armed Constabulary also appeared on the scene with equal readiness. The firemen first directed their attention to Turnbull’s store. The door was burst in. One hose was attached to a hydrant, and the branchman commenced to play on the building ; but it very soon became evident that owing to the inflammable nature of its contents, more water than could be obtained from the street mains would be required to subdue the fire. By this time the Empire was on fire. Rather the flames had caught a pretty firm hold of the left wing of that building. A hose was attached to the hydrant near the Bank of New Zealand, and taken to the back of Mr O’Shea’s store. From this position the branchman in charge did his level best to keep the fire from spreading northward, but the force of water at his command was inadequate to the requirements of the case ; and had no other means been available, it is more than probable that the whole block of buildings extending to Cohen’s corner would have been utterly destroyed. But the constabulary engine was brought into Mr O’Shea’s yard, and commenced to play on the inner part of the Empire quadrangle, by taking the hose through the upper floor of the north wing of the hotel. One of the Central engines was taken down to the end of Harbor street, and in the shortest time imaginable the foreman, in the coolest manner, had the gear connected and the hose also.carried through the same building as the A.C.’s had done. While the fire was at its height some sparks were carried on the shingles of Mr Compton’s residence, which ignited, but a good watch being kept it was quickly extinguished. A quantity of old canvas and bagging in the rear of Messrs Turnbull’s offices was on fire, but Mr Compton and others extinguished it before it got hold, and thus fortunately what threatened to be a second fire of large proportions was prevented. Turnbull’s wharf was on fire at one time, pieces of burning timber which fell from the building having ignited it, and some goods that were placed thereon were destroyed. The approach to the wharf only was burnt. It was blinding work. The whole place was enveloped in smoke, and to go down the passage of the Empire was to brave suffocation. But the firemen and all concerned worked bravely and well. Volunteers were called for, and it was evident to all that the fire was mastered.

It seldom happens that the attempts to save household furniture in cases of the kind are unaccompanied by all sorts of damage. This fire was unfortunately no exception to the rule. From the appearance of things in the first place it appeared eminently probable that the entire building would be consumed. Therefore all haste was made to save the contents of the building, although, as the result has proved, all the goods in the front of the house might hare been let rest for all the injury they would have sustained. Every room in the house in which fire was not was cleared of its contents. Mirrors were thrown out, delicate pieces of furniture were handled roughly and much damaged. Even the attached fittings were removed from their places. A marble mantel shelf was thrown out of a secondstory window on to the ground beneath and smashed to pieces. The stoves were wrenched from their places. To sum up, the house was litarally transformed, and bore not a trace of what it had been an hour before —a comfortable and elegantly furnished hotel. The lodgers suffered considerably. One gentleman, a commercial traveller, lost property consisting of samples of jewellery to the value of over £2OO. Others were unfortunate in different degrees. Some lost everything they had in the hotel. Several watches

were lost, and also money. In some cases the victims had not even found time to provide themselves with a complete suit of clothes. One of these had to buy a pair of boots and borrow a coat yesterday morning Another was seen to rush up and down the street once or twice in a costume of the queerest kind, being a compromise between that used by our forefather Adam and a modern dress suit. He had on one tall hat, one shirt, and a pair of boots. He found a friend and clothed himself. Mr Moeller’s employees were exceedingly unfortunate. All of them suffered great loss. In fact, their all was'sacrificed, they having slept in that wing of the building which first caught fire, and consequently they were not able to save an atom of their property. Boxes of clothing, jewellery—everything was consumed. Within ten minutes of the alarm the employees of Turnbull and Co were on the spot, working like Trojans removing the goods from the store. They carried away an immense quantity of valuable stock, storing it in Jacob Joseph’s store, which was found to be extremely convenient. Messrs W, and G. Turnbull were insured in different offices for £2500, but it is stated that another policy of £IOOO was taken out in the Transatlantic Company recently. This was on the building and stock. The value of the building and stock together is estimated at £7500, the stock having been recently increased by two shipments—one by the Ned White and another by the Annie Lewis—of what are known as American notions. The loss from the fire may be set down at about £4OOO, as the goods being closely packed they will not have been all destroyed, and will realise something if put up to auction. Among goods contained in the store were £IOOO worth of American chairs. Among the goods destroyed were sixty tons destined for Westport and Greymouth, the order of Mr Bentley. Turnbull and Co were insured in different offices—not including the policy of £IOOO referred to as having been added recently—as follow:—In the Transatlantic, £250; New Zealand Company, £250; National, £1000; the Royal, £500; the Batavian, £SOO. Mr Moeller had his stock and furniture insured for £2500. He had to pay Mr Martin £BO a year for insurance of the building ; but it appears that Mr Martin never did insure the building, so that he will likely have to replace it. Notwithstanding the insurance, and in whatever light the catastrophe is regarded, it will be apparent that Mr Moeller must sustain considerable loss, though it be comparatively small to that of Messrs Turnbull and Martin. And regarding this question of loss generally, we were painfully reminded yesterday that there are here in Wellington, as in other places, a class of unthinking and smallminded persons, whose habit it is to speak of the misfortunes of others with flippancy, carelessness, and spite. Certain persons of this class were heard yesterday to make such remarks as that Messrs Turnbull and Martin could well afford a serious loss, having plenty of money, &c. A moment’s sensible consideration—if such people could be supposed to possess sense —would have deterred them from making such illnatured remarks. To the Messrs Turnbull and Mr Martin this city owes much of its present prosperity ; and to the enterprise of the first mentioned firm the commerce of this city is greatly indebted, for few if any of our merchants have done BO much to extend the business of Wellington. Mr Martin was entirely uninsured, but although his loss is heavy, it is not so extensive as that sustained by Messrs Turnbull and 00. It will be seen that be has resolved to sell the land and buildings left by auction to-day. We wish to say a word or two in commendation of the men to whose pluck, energy, and skill the city is indebted for arresting the progress of what threatened to be the most disastrous fire with which Wellington has ever been visited. It has frequently been said, prophetically, that should the Empire ever catch fire, the whole of that block of buildings of which it is the centre would be destroyed. Fortunately the prophets were, as the phrase goes, “ oat in their reckoning.” But the remarks were perfectly justified nevertheless, and we have no hesitation in saying that had it not been for the exertions of our excellent brigades, and those who assisted them, the lower half of the block at least must have been destroyed. Events of this kind should deeply impress the two brigades with the vast importance of working in harmony, in saying which there is no desire to infer that such a spirit does not exist. Indeed, the result of Sunday morning’s business pretty clearly shows each man was influenced by one proper feeling—namely, how to do best what there was to be done. It would be invidious, under the circumstances, to mention names; otherwise we could point to certain men whose exertions did them great honour, and who deserve the thanks of the whole community. The armed constabulary distinguished themselves. They worked very hard, without bluster. Throughout yesterday numbers of persons were heard to speak highly of their conduct, and it is only right that •they should receive such reward as a published acknowledgment of their merits may be. Many good volunteers were also there, and as usual many unmitigated loafers, attracted there by the chance of sharing the spoils in the shape of liquor. But these latter, although not entirely checked, were fended off to a considerabli extent by the police, who did good service generally, and to whom many of the sufferers by the fire are beholden. We have been requested by Superintendent Whiteford, Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade, “ to thankfully acknowledge receipt of £5 from Messrs Blundell Bros, as a token of their appreciation of the promptness displayed by the brigade in turning out yesterday morning.” We may also state that Messrs Blundell presented the Central Brigade and the Armed Constabulary each with £5 To look at the front of the Empire Hotel one would not imagine that it had been the scene of a large fire. None of the windows are broken ; in fact, the fore part of the building was untouched. But the rear of the building (if it can be called such a name) is a dusky skeleton. Part of it is burned to the ground, as is the back of Messrs Turnbull’s store. All inside the yard is a scene of destruction.