WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 211, 9 January 1865, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

DESTRUCTIVE FIDE. (From the Wellington Advertiser.)

The advent of the new year has been rendered celebrated in Wellington by the occurrence of an alarming and destructive fire, by means of which some seven or eight houses on Lambton Quay have been destroyed, and property to a considerable amount has been lost. It is but a few weeks ago since it was our painful duty to chronicle the occurrence of another conflagration in a different part of the town, and then, as on all previous'occasions, we pointed but the absolute necessity which existed for the organisation of an efficient fire brigade for the protection of persons and property in this city. No steps have, however, been taken in the matter, although everyone admits the necessity, and promises such an undertaking their assistance and support. The repeated warnings remain unattended to, and are likely to do so until the outbreak of some fearful conflagration which will strike terror into the hearts of every inhabitant.

About four o’clock yesterday morning the fire in question was observed to issue from the shop occupied by Mr J. Hall, as a grocery establishment, and situated between the drapery store of Mr J. Burns and Mr C. D. Barraud’s apothecary shop. Between the latter and the burning buildings -there was,' however, a small break. The alarm was at once given by the person who first discovered the fire, and Mr Hall and family were aroused from their beds, and made good their escape, although for this purpose they appear to have had little time, as Mr Hall informs us that when he jumped up it appeared to him that the house was entirely enveloped in flames. This, hardly have been the case, inasmuch that all the inmates effected their escape without injury, but with only just sufficient clothes to cover them. W ith characteristic good fortune the wind was not very strong, although a good fresh breeze was blowing from the N.W. The inmates of all the adjoining row of houses were by, this time alarmed, and a considerable concourse of people having arrived, every exertion was used —and with very great- sucooaa-Mba remove the goods from the houses which were in more immediate danger of catching fire. The flames very quickly laid a firm hold of Mr Bum’s premises, and, fanned by the steady breeze, there was soon an immense body of flames issuing from the burning pile. In the meantime the fire engines had arrived, and were in full play, a copious and inexhaustible supply of water being obtained from the sea, which was situated within some thirty or forty feet of the fire. The first on the ground was the police engine, under the command of Mr Police-sergeant Crowder, and next came the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company’s engine, in charge of Mr Ritson; then the New Zealand Insurance Company’s engine ;

and lastly, the military engine, in charge of a body of the ~l4th Regiment, under the command of Captain Buck. Throughout, all the engines worked remarkably well, that belonging to the New Zealand Company sustaining its reputation for being, probably, ' one of the best in the colony. On and on the flames drove towards the head of tho bay with unabated fury, and in an incredibly short space of time they reached and enveloped the shop in the occupation of the Misses Harris as a millinery establishment, and also Mr B. Poulson’s tailoring establishment. On the other side of the burning pile, the fire had obtained an ascendancy, and in spite of the efforts of the populace to the contrary aided too as they were with large quantities of water, Mr Barraud’s caught, and was quickly completely enveloped in flame. It was now evident that unless the wind moderated the further extension of the fire towards the south end of the town could not be prevented otherwise than by pulling down some of the buildings in order to make a gap in the then continuous line of houses. The consent of the agents for the insuranc ecompanies having accordingly been secured, a rope was attached to the premises occupied by Mr Horablow as a workshop for cabinet-making purposes, and, although the process was somewhat tedious owing to the want of organization and of necessary implements, the budding, which" was very rotten indeed, was razed, and the timber removed to a safe distance. Attention was now directed to a building standing at the rear of Mr R. Hart’s offices, and between it and the hill at the back, and this also was pulled down and taken away. By this time the wind had considerably abated, and hopes were entertained that Mr Hart’s offices —trom which all the books and documents had been removed—might be saved if properly managed, and the surmise turned out to be correct, although Messrs Pond and Remmington’s plumbers’ shop, which was immediately adjoining, was one mass of flame. However, three of the engines played vigorously upon the building, and prevented the further extension of the fire, but Pond and Remington’s premises were almost burned to the ground. Mr. Hart’s offices, although considerably damaged, and with the out-buildings entirely demolished, were almost uninjured by five, and the devouring element here was overcome. On the other side Mr. Barraud’s premises had been entirely destroyed, and Mr. E. W. Mill’s establishment only escaped throngh the exertions of some persons who placed wet blankets upon the roof, and in consequence of a small passage between the two buildings which rendered ignition, with the wind in the opposite direction, a matter of difficulty. The engines continued to pour a copious stream of water on the embers, and by the afternoon the chimneys were the only remains of the block of buildings. The following is a list of the houses destroyed :—Mr. Barraud’s, chemist and druggist; Mr. Hall, storekeeper ; Mr. Burne draper; Misses Harris, millinery warehouse ; Mr. B. PouUon, tailor ; Pond and Eemmingtou, plumbers ; Mr.Hornblow, cabinet-maker (pulled down) ; besides these the premises in rear of Mr. R. Hart’s officers were pulled down, and the offices themselves received considerable injury.

Shortly after the outbreak of the fire a very large concourse of people had assembled, but the large proportion of them were merely in the capacity of spectators, and took no part, in the work. There were, however, as usual upon such an occasion, a number of volunteers for duty, and for the most party they worked with hearty good will Amongst these Mr. George Hunter and Major Gorton were conspicuous, and also Messrs- J. Woodward, W. B. Rhodes, Boddington, Go wing, Stafford, Mclntyre, Ticehvrst, Jacobs, Stamlwefl, T. Bennett, G. H. Swan, G. Moore, and Riddick. With reference to the origin of the fire nothing whatever is positively known, but there is little doubt that it originated in the chimney in Hall’s house, although he says that there had been no fire in the place during the Sunday after breakfast time, nor duriug the previous evening. D is the more likely that it ongininated here because the chimney is in a very bad state of repair, and Mr. Hall states that it wao in its vicinity where the flames were the thickest when the alarm was first given. There is, however, a singular matter connected with this. Several persons who were passing along Lambton Quay on the Sunday night positively assert that they could smell fire, and that it was remarked upon at the time. It is quite possible that this was not mere fancy—as one would suppose from the length of time which elapsed before the fire, burst out—and that some portion of the lining had been ignited from the chimney, and was at the time smouldering. The insurances stands thus: : —

In the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Company—Barraud’s psemises and stock, £1,000; Hall’s shop, £GS ; Burne’s premises and stock, £3,000. In the Australasian—Burne’s premises and stock, £1,000; Poulson’s premises £3OO. In the Northern—Hornblow’s stock £3OO. In the London and Lancashire—Hall’s stock, £4OO. In the New Zealand Company—Burne’s stock, £1,000; Poulsion’s stock, furniture, &c., £3OO ; Harris’s building, £200; Hart’s building and office furniture, £350. Pond and Remington, building, £l5O.

Mb. Fox. —This gentleman was also amongst the passengers by the Phoebe, and he has proceeded by her en route for Australia, where he intends to remain for a few mouths, and to return to Wellington in time to attend the next meeting of the Assembly.— lbid. Serious Accident. —We regret exceedingly to have to record the occurrence of a serious accident to Mr. J. E. Nathan, of the firm of Messrs. Jacob Joseph & Co., of this city. ' It appears that as Mr, Nathan was on Sunday morning riding down the beach he was thrown from his horse, and while lying on the ground the animal kicked him with great violence in the mouth, knocking out nearly all the teeth. We are glad to learn that although the contusion is a very severe one, Mr. Nathan is progressing as favorably as could be expected.— Wellington 3rd Jan.

The GovsuaraEßKi Officials.—A number of the General Government officials arrived in the s.s. Phoabo on Tuesday last, and some more of the public documents also came to band by this opportunity. The gentlemen already arrived belong to the Postmaster-General’s and Audit Departments, and it is expected that some more of them will be down ‘within a week or so. The Hon. Mr. Weld (Colonial Secretary) ; the Hon. J. Richardson (Post-master General; and.the Hon. Mr. Fitzherbert (Colonial Treasurer) ; were also passengers by the Phoebe. The two former gentlemen have proceeded to the Southland will return to Wellington in about a fortnight. The officials who have already arrived will occupy some of the Government Offices, some of the Provincial Government departments being temporarily transferred to Dr. Evans’ house on Golder’s Hill. — II id.