DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PORT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1821, 22 December 1879, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PORT.

A more destructive fire than Lyttelton has experienced for many years broke out at a quarter-past two o’clock yesterday morning, at the N.B. corner of Norwich Quay and Dublin street. How it was caused is unknown, as also is the precise locality of its origin, though from the statements of those first to observe it, it would seem to have originated in Mr John Pope’s blacksmithirg ■hop. Mr Pope’s shop was situated between a grocer’s shop, kept by Mr J. Bain, and the old Bank of New Zealand, both frame buildings. The latter building had been recently purchased by Mr Pope, and was being altered so as to form part of his workshop. On the west side of this was Captain Richard Wood’s ship chandlery store, a good wide passageway intervening between it and the other buildings. All these had a frontage to Norwich Quay, Captain Wood’s being the corner premises. Turning into Dublin street was a small cottage owned by Captain Wood and occupied by one of his workmen, James Loder. The buildings here enumerated comprise the burnt portion of the property, Captain Wood’s store, the old Bank building, and Mr Pope’s premises being totally destroyed, and the other two structures badly burnt. The imurances upon these, including their contents, were, as nearly as could be ascertained yesterday, as follows: Mr J. Bain, on stock, £3OO, with the Colonial Insurance Company. The building was owned by Mr J. T. Fisher, and is stated to have been insured for £l2O in the Sun office. Mr John Pope, on building, machinery, and tools, £633, and on the old Bank building it is said there was £2OO more, both risks with the London and Lancashire. Captain R. Wood, on building and stock in store, £950, principally insured in the South British office. In addition to these, there was a large iron store on the east side of Mr Bain’s shop, used as a warehouse by Messrs H. Hawkins and Co. The building was barely saved from destruction, and it is stated that a quantity of goods in it were damaged by water in the endeavor. The contents of the building were insured in the Colonial office for £2OOO. Bound on Dublin street, a short distance above the cottage partially destroyed, belong ing to Captain Wood, is Mr Thomas Green’s boarding house, out of which the bulk of the furniture was carried, incurring, it is said, some damage. Mr Green had a policy of £l5O upon his effects with the Standard Insurance Company. From all that can be ? leaned, the aggregate of the sums insured alls very short of the value of the property burnt. Am example of this may be instanced in the case of Captain Wood, who had a hundred tons of coal in his yard at the back of his store and about forty cords of firewood on Saturday night, of which he has been deprived by the fire, and upon which there was no insurance whatever. Mr Bain and bis family, living on the premises destroyed, got out in safety, though not a moment too soon. But a narrower escape occurred in the little cottage on Dublin street, occupied by Mr Loder. In the excitement caused by the roaring and glare of the flames —then almost upon the cottage when the occupants were aroused —a child was left in its cot in the bedroom asleep, the parents carrying out the other little ones. A minute or so after the mother realised that the child had not been brought out, and Constable Neil, hearing of it, ran into the room and brought it out in safety, though not without getting his hair singed in the few seconds it took him to do it. The strong N.E. wind prevailing caused the fire to burn with great force, and rendered its work of destruction rapid and sweeping. Nevertheless a considerable quantity of goods was saved by the Lyttelton lire brigade, the fire polios, and the crowd of willing residents who had assembled at the alarm. The high wind carried flakes of burning wood for hundreds of yards, and not a few of the residents on the hill-side to the westward of the fire had as much as they could do to protect their own premises. As a temporary ■tore for the goods saved from the Are, the morgue directly opposite was utiled. Superintendent Sowden with his fire brigade worked energetically, and the Harbor Board’s steam tug Lyttelton did admirable service. Three jets of water were first started by the fire brigade, the steam tug in the meantime made ready, and got out a good jet. The tug was brought in close to the breastwork at the Tunnel wharf, distant about 150 or 200 yards from the fire, but her splendid pump forced up an excellent stream. Another jet was then added from the town hydrants, and another from the tug steamer, making in all six, with about 2000 feet of hose in use. In the early part of the fire an accident occurred which placed the town service for a time at a great disadvantage, and caused a good many deprecatory remarks to be made by those who ■aw the effect, but were unaware of the cause. The supply was taken from three hydrants at this time, one hose to each hydrant. Suddenly there was a a falling off in the pressure perceptible at all three jets and an almost entire failure at the one immediately affected. For some minutes it was supposed that the water had not been properly turned on, but the cause was subsequently found to be at the hydrant near the new Bank of New Zealand. In running a cart out of Messrs Hawkins and Oo.’s yard it had passed over the hose close to the hydrant there, breaking the latter and the the lugs of the fire plug. There was 260 ft. of hose on at the time, and it was some minutes as stated before the discovery was made that the throe-inch service pipe into which the hydrant was screwed, was sending its contents chiefly to waste, instead of through the hose. Directly after the broken hydrant had been removed, and the hose attaoned to one of the other two, the jets came out in full force, and this force was shortly increased by adding the pressure of the upper level reservoirs. Of the cause of the fire nothing has been ascertained. The furnaces in Mr Pope’s shop were put out at 6 p.m. on Saturday, and no person is known to have been there afterwards. Ser-geant-major O’Grady and his fores were on duty during the fire and did excellent service.