FIRE IN GLOUCESTER STREET.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1053, 12 November 1877, Page 3

FIRE IN GLOUCESTER STREET.

At eight minutes past six o'clock last evening Christchurch was startled by tho ringing of the fire bell at the Chester street fire police station. The alarm was given by Mr Malcolm McCallum, who had run straight from the scene of the fire, which had broken out in the kitchen of Burmeister's oyster saloon, attached to Bay lee's Criterion Hotel, Gloucester street. It appears that Burmeister and his wife had left the premises shortly after one o'clock, and had gone on a visit to Sumner. They left the servant girl in charge. Towards four o'clock the servant also prepared to go out, and before going upstairs to dress she put a shovelful of coals in the American atove in the kitchen. She left the premises at twenty minutes past four o'clock, and locked the doors leaving no one in the house. At the time she left the fire was burning lightly. About, or a little before, six o'clock a person named William Wright, while crossing a paddock in Gloucester street, saw smoke issuing from behind the chimney of Burmeister's place, and shortly afterwards Messrs McCallum and Baylee noticed a glare of fire from where they were Bitting in a room in the Criterion Hotel. This was at five minutes past six, and about the same time Sergeant Wilson noticed that something was wrong from Victoria bridge, and hurrying along, he was one of the first on &\e scene. It may be mentioned that between (the time of the servant leaving and the fire breaking out a man who passed through the right-of-way saw no sign of danger. The alarm was given, us already stated, at eight minutes past six, and suoh was the alacrity displayed by Mr Superintendent Harris aud members of the fire brigade that the first water was poured upon the premises at nineteen minutes post six o'clock. The oyster saloon and the Criterion Hotel being attached, and being old wooden buildings, tho flames rapidly acquired great volume and intensity, and at one time, notwithstanding the efforts of the brigade, than whom no men could have worked more lieroically, there waß great danger of their spreading to an old wooden stable from which their passage to the " Lyttelfcon Times " office would have been swift and inevitable. However, the brave efforts made by the companionship of that offico ' with water .Duckets and wet blankets, together with a

fortunate lull in the light easterly wind blowing at the time, saved the shingle roof of the stable from ignition, thu9 preventing the destruction of a large block of buildings. At that particular juncture the brigade were otherwise actively engaged in confining the flames to the blazing premises. Coming to fche assistance of the men with the buckets their labors were so successful as to render it apparent that there was no danger of the llames spreading to the adjacent premises. The City Police, who were present in force under the directions of their officers, did excellent service, assisted by the fire police, in the way of assisting to save furniture, and keeping the vast crowd of people in the street from interfering with or impeding the work of the brigade. A great deal of furniture was rescued, and at one time it was thought that a a man who had gone upstairs in the Criterion for this purpose had been burnt, but it was subsequently found out that he had made his exit by the back when the heat and the smoke became unbearable. Valuable books and papers were removed from the " Lyttelton Times " office, but fortunately that office escaped scathless. The heroic efforts of some members of the Brigade even prevented flames from catching the liquor store at the back of the Criterion. The Hook and Ladder Company was first up at the fire, and the " Extinguisher," which was stationed at the suspension bridge on the Avon, had on the first water. The "Deluge" was stationed at the tank in Cathedral Square and did excellent work, but the " Dreadnaught " hand engine could not operate, being unable to reach the fire. The branchmen of the Extinguisher were engaged in preventing the flames from spreading westward, those of the Deluge with two brarches in protecting the buildings towards Cathedral Square. Mr Burmeister who had the oyster saloon premises, containing seven rooms, was the tenant of Mr Baylee, by whom they were insured in the Standard for £250. The Criterion, which contained twenty rooms, was insured in the National for £SOO, in the Standard for £250, the New Zealand £250, and in the Victoria for £l5O. Mr Baylee estimates his loss, independent of insurances, at £2OOO. Mr Burmeister states that his loss amounts to £6OO, his furniture being uninsured. There were four £2O notes in the house, several pounds belonging to the servant girl, and numerous articles of jewellery. Mr Baylee had recently sold the Criterion to Mr George Bird, late of the Telegraph Department; but it is understood that, although Mr Bird had entered the house on Saturday night, no legal transfer had been effected.