LAST NIGHT’S FIRES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2420, 7 January 1882, Page 3

LAST NIGHT’S FIRES.

THE UNION BANK GUTTED. ME D. BEEBE’S SAWMILLS BUENT. Just after midnight the streets of the city in the vicinity of Hereford street were filled with smoke, and it was soon noticeable that, within the block bounded by Cashel street on the one side and Hereford street on the other, there was a large fire. The hells rang out but a short peal, which, however, was sufficient to muster the members of the Fire Brigade. After a little time had been lost in discovering the locale of the fire, it was at at last found in the top storey of the Union Bank of Australia. The Hook and Ladder Company were the first to arrive, quickly followed by the Extinguisher steamer, which took up a position near Lane’s mill. The top story of the Bank, which, it may be premised, is built of stone and brick, is divided into two rooms. The one to the eastward, in which the fire originated, is occupied as a private office by the chief officer, Mr Joseph Palmer; and when first observed, though apparently small, the fire must have been smouldering for some time, as so soon as the front windows of the room in which the fire started were burnt out the flames appeared to sweep over the whole ot the floor, which then became one mass of fire. Joining on to the Bank, but divided from it by a stone . wall, is Mr Palmer’s private residence. This was at once seen to be safe from any danger, so that none of the furniture was removed. Mr Palmer and family, with the servants, were absent at Burnham, and so far as could be ascertained no one was on the premises but two clerks, who slept in Mr Palmer’s private residence. These were after some trouble aroused. The fire in the meantime spread on the upper floor, the body of flame being very great. The firemen worked most zealously, the branches being taken up through the front windows, and the water played upon what looked like a perfect sea of fire. After half-an-hour had passed the flames took hold of the wooden cornice which runs around the building, and the attention of the firemen was directed to this as well at to the fire inside. Two lines of hose being laid on the brigade were enabled to cope with both the points of danger, and the river yielding a plentiful supply of water it was thought that the fire would not extend beyond the floor in which it originated. The hose was passed over the roof, and the attention of the brigade was directed towards extinguishing the fire, which had got firm hold of the cornice. To this end one line of hose was taken down the passage between Messrs Harman and Stevens’ old offices and the Bank, and the water thrown over the roof to the front towards Hereford street. At 1.30 a.m. the fire was apparently at an end, and the Extinguisher was removed to the Cashel street bridge, where the Deluge was stationed. About 2 a.m., however, the fire again broke out in the roof of the Bank, and the services of the brigade were again called into requisition. The flood of water poured on the burning mass, however, soon completed the work, and though the ceiling of the banking room was burnt through this did not affect the lower part as there was some three or four inches of water on the floor, so that no fire took place there. Oa entering the banking premises which, as our readers are aware, are on the lewer floor the ceiling was found to be on fire, as also the staircase leading to the upper floor. _lt was no doubt from this that the fire which was afterwards discovered on the roof sprung. The damage to the roof and also the fact that the floor of the banking room was some two feet under water, renders a temporary change cf place of business necessary, and the bank has therefore arranged to have an office in Messrs Lewis and Gould’s new buildings, Worcester street, Cathedral square. The insurances, so far as could be ascertained this morning, were that the Bank was insured for £BOOO in the Liverpool, London and Globe, Union and Eoyal.

DESTRUCTION OP ME REESE’S SAWMILL. Scarcely had the crowd assembled at the Union Bank before the cry was raised, “ There’s another fire!” and on glancing to the southward it was at once apparent that another large conflagration was taking place. A. rush was made in the direction of the glare, and on turning into Durham street the extensive sawmill and timber yard situated at the corner of Lichfield street, belonging to Mr Reese, were seen to be in flames. The brigade was not long in arriving, and having placed the steamer Deluge on the Cashel street bridge, the water was soon brought to bear on the workshops, where the flames had obtained a furious hold. The fire appeared to have originated in this portion of the mill, and from the inflammable nature of the surroundings, it burned with great fierceness, and the heat was intense. The stables were situated to the southward of the burning building, and a light breeze springing up from that direction enabled all the horses to be led out. The harness and rolling stock were also removed to a place of safety. About a quarter of an hour after the first outbreak it became apparent that nothing could save the mill. Three jets of water were now playing, two from the Deluge and one from the handengine, which was stationed in Lichfield street, but in spite of the utmost efforts of the brigade, the buildings went down one by one. The last to succumb were the engine - house and the office. The latter contained the books of the firm, which were looked up in the safe, and of course it is a matter for conjecture whether they have been burnt. As before mentioned, the mill was utterly destroyed, as was also the machinery in the engine house. A number of willing hands commenced to remove the stock of timber in the yard, and also the contents of a small building on the south side of the gate, but as it was seen that the fire would not spread in that direction they were induced to desist. Adjoining the yard in Lichfield street was the private residence of Mr Reese, who, we regret to hear, was so unwell as to be confined to bed yesterday. The building was not at any time in much danger, but a quantity of furniture and other movables was removed soon after the fire broke out. Mr Reese informs us that he will be a very heavy loser by the catastrophe. Roughly speaking, his insurances amount to about £2400, and the stock in the yard was valued at £4OOO. Added to this must be the machinery and plant, which were estimated to be worth at least a couple of thousand pounds. Amongst the property destroyed was a number of plans and specifications, which it will be impossible to replace, as their collection has been the work of years. Altogether, this fire is one of the most disastrous that has taken place here for some time. Considerable credit is due to the Brigade, under Superintendent Harris, for their efforts, and also to the Fire Police for the assistance they rendered. The police, too, were present in force, but the crowd, which was not a very large one_, maintained the utmost order. Some excitement was caused by the discovery of a dog_which was chained up in the yard, and making frantic efforts to escape. He succeeded in breaking his chain, and several of the by-standors, in spite of the intense heat, effected a breach in the fence, and allowed the animal to escape, but not before he had been somewhat singed by the flames. By a quarter-past one o’clock, the fire had nearly burned itself out, and there remained little but the embers to extinguish. Nothing is known as to the origin of the outbreak. LATER PARTICULARS. The scene of the two fires which occurred almost simultaneously last night were largely visited this morning by persons anxious to witness the extent of damage done. Of Mr Reese’s timber yard nothing is left but a quantity of charred timber and the remains of various machines used in the trade. A fence roughly constructed of half-burnt corrugated iron has been erected round the premises, and a number of men were engaged all the morning in putting together what was worth collecting from the debris. The private residence adjoining the timber yard escaped uninjured, Mr Reese was insured for £2750 in the New Zealand office. His lose is estimated at £2OOO above that amount. Nothing further has transpired as to the origin of the fire. The men were employed in the workshop until rather a late hour, and it is conjectured that the fire may have originated from the heated machinery igniting some shavings, of which there were a great many in the workshop. Mr Reese is a great sufferer by the fire. In addition to his actual loss of over - £2OOO, his business will of course bo seriously

injured by a compulsory stoppage of work, owing to the destruction of his plant and stock. Considerable damage was done to the Union Bank—to the extent it is estimated of nearly £2OOO, although it is impossible yet to ascertain with any degree of accuracy the actual amount of damage done to the building. The rooms up-stairs are completely gutted, and it is thought that a great portion of the ceiling, and the fittings of the Bank, which were of a very elaborate and cosily character, will have to bo replaced. All the valuable documents were in the iron safe downstirs, and escaped uninjured. In fact, the business of the Bank was so little affected by the fire that at ten o’clock this morning the clerks were performing their usual avocations in Messrs Lewis and Gould's new buildings in Worcester street. The Bank was insured for £7BOO, which was distributed as follows :—Union office, £2OOO ; Northern, £ISOO ; Imperial, £ISOO ; Royal, £ISOO ; Liverpool, London, and Globe, £I3OO. No explanation can be given as to how the fire at the Bank originated. It started in a room to which no one could possibly have had access after the clerks left, at about half-past four o’clock in the afternoon. It can only be surmised that at that hour fire was left burning in some shape or other, and continued to smoulder until it broke out at about midnight.