AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 24 February 1865, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

The Late Fiee. —We proceed to givt from the Southern Cross, a few particulars. The first symptoms of alarm appear to have been raised by Constable Dignan, who saw smoke issuing from the premises in Shortland-street known as the Victoria Hotel. The fire, soon afterwards burst forth most furiously. The part of the Victoria in which it was first seen was the new entrance to it in Shortland-street. When the smoke was discovered by Constable Dignan, about half-past 2 o’clock, the fire-bell, only a few yards lower down was rung violently, and a number of persons flocked to the sjoot to ascertain the cause. Only a few minutes sufficed to consume the new front and bar of the Victoria, when Mr Posseniskie’s shop caught, and it was only by dint of great exertion on the part of some persons who were attracted by the alarm of tin; fire that any of the property in it was removed into O’Cormell-street. The morning was unusually fine and moonlight, with scarcely a breath of air to fan the flame ; but still it spread in its destructive course, and gave signs of continuing unchecked until it had swept away the whole range of buildings between Hobson’s store aud James’s new hotel, in course of erection, Mr Posseniskie having got his wife and, children together, and the crowd having conveyed some of the goods out, the building was left to its inevitable doom, and the bystanders directed their attention to the adjoining shop, in the occupation of Mr Halyday, upholsterer. Here there were Mr and Mrs Halyday, eight children, and servant. So rapidly did the flames spread that some of the inmates of this house were compelled to seek shelter in the street with only their night-clothes on ; and the consternation of the bystanders and the family was very great when it was found that two of the children were missing. Further search was made on tiie premises, but no traces of their whereabouts could be discovered. Later in the morning, however, the missing ones turned up, to the great comfort of the parents. The fireengines were now got to work, the brigade having mustered with a goodly number of volunteer assistants, and the crowd rendering all the service in their power to alleviate the losses of the suffe ers. The police force were mustered and took charge of th 6 property rescued, under the command of Mr Commissioner Naughton, who was one of the first-persons on the spot, and several detachments of soldiers from the garrison, Albert Barracks, arrived shortly afterwards. There was the usual amount of diiiiculty experienced in getting the hose to work, both from the want of water and the dilapidated.condition of the piping, which wasted quite as much water as was available for the extinguishing of the fire. The very dry season that has boon experienced left tiie water supply von' uncertain, aud it was not without considerable ditnculty a sufficiency could be secured from the Custom-house and Queen-street wells. The harbor was too far.away, and the height an insurmountable obstacle in the way of making it available. Had there been a proper supply of water at hand the lire need not nave passed the new premises inlcOurse of erection for. James’s Family Hotel, aud it is a matter tor regret that so little attention was directed to the preservation of that fine building. Had it been otherwise the calamitous destruction of property which succeeded would have been averted, and The loss greatly lessened. Thu llamos wore, at this stage, raging in Mr Rattray s drapery establishment, which had just been vacated by the family, aud a large portion of the stock conveyed to a piace of security. The building aud furniture speedily fell a prey to the. devouring element. Some of the property taken from this place, as well as from Fosseniskie’s and Hampton’s, was deposited in the store at the rear of James’s new hotel, but as the flames spread it was thought desirable to remove them from this place to one of greater safety. Some time was foolishly spent in playing on the brick premises occupied by the Bank of Auckland, by order of one of the directors, if the time so wasted had been directed to the premises adjoining those in flames, and a gap had been in the road, some good would probably have been effected. The house and shop in the occupation of Mr Hampton, tailor, adjoining the drapery establishment of Mr Rattray, quickly fell a prey to the flames, there being only time to secure portions of the furniture aud stock. It was at first fully believed the fire would die out here, owing to the height of Mr James’s hotel, of brick 3 but the flames were to powerful and extended through windows to the dry timber of the roof, which was only partially finished. If these windows had been closed on the outside by sheets of metal, the building would have been saved; but no elforfc was made to do this, or to stop up the windows on the other side, through which a quantity of timber was projecting. Much of the loose timber in this building was got out, but the bare woodwork was so inflammable that the place was speedily enveloped in flames. The beams gave way with occasional crashes, „and the brick cornice at the front, containing about five or six tons of brick, fell heavily to the ground, endangering the lives of several persons. About four o’clock it became too painfully apparent that the wooden building on the east side of the Q.C.E., and known as Bedford House, was doomed to destruction, the llamos having communicated from the interior of the brick building to some portion of the roof of Bedford House. An ineffectual attempt to restrain the spread of the flames was made by the fireman with their hose 5 but owing to the very scanty supply of water and the driblets in which it was poured on the threatened buildings, it was of little use. The roof of Bedford House having once become ignited a few minutes only intervened before it was a mass of flames. Mr Montague’s shop was under the same roof, and this also quickly succumbed. It was now considered that, owing to the almost entire absence of water, the only means to save the remaining bouses on the same side of the street was to pul! down one or two shops higher up, snd an attempt was made to pull down that called the Victoria Boarding House. Ropes were attached to the windows and studs at the front, and a number of men tugged with might and main, but without success. The front part of the shop was, it is true, pulled down, but by the time this had been effected the two intervening shops—the one recently occupied by

Mr Cucksey, and the Star of Peace (O’Brien’s) eating-house—had served to add fuel to the flames, which came crackling on, and the end of the rope attached to the roof was speedilv unloosed by being burned through, as the shingles caught fire. Again a brick building (Mr Bowden’s) was reached, and hopes were again entertained that it would prove serviceable to stop the fire. Unfortunately, however, in this instance, the frame pf a sky-light on the roof of Mr Bowden’s house became quickly ignited from the intense heat from the contiguous premises ; and the living embers falling into the room beneath, a dense mass of flame quickly burst from the windows of the upper storey and the roof. Before the flames had communicated with this building every precaution had been taken to have the goods and furniture prepared for speedy removal ; but owing to the sudden rush into the premises of excited persons. who carried off art icles indiscriminately, the property secured was much damaged. Nearly the whole of the exterior walls of this building fell to the ground from the intense heat. The nest premises to succumb were those of Mr White, baker and confectioner, and these fortunately were the last destroyed in Short-land-street. Simultaneously with" the spread of the fire in’ Shortland-strect, the business premises in Yictoria-lane and the old portion of the Victoria Hotel were burned to the ground, and the fire then consumed a wooden store, near the Victoria Hotel, the Caledonian Boarding-house, and a private house. A considerable space afterwards very fortunately intervened, and the next building being Messrs Thompson, Keith, and Co.’s, by the judicious application of a few buckets of water, the sparks- falling on the shingles were extinguished. Mrs Hamley was in charge of the party of soldiers, told off for service in this street, and for the removal of goods from the Commissariat Store, if necessary. During the extension of the fire up Shortland-street, the occupants of the premises on the south side were most busily employed covering the roofs and fronts of their houses with wet blankets. The hose was also occasionally directed thither, and the fire was thus confined to one side of the thoroughfare. Great complaints have been made by the occupants of the premises higher up (ho street than Mr Canning’s at the wilful destruction which their goods and household furniture sustained at the hands of many persons who rushed into the premises. A meeting of the agents of the various insurance companies having offices in Auckland took place at two o’clock yesterday afternoon, when the following totals where handed in of insurances upon property damaged or totally destroyed : New Zealand Insurance Company £2 800 Royal Insurance Company i i’onO North British and Mercantile Insurance Company. of which oue-hah is re-insured in England j 50a Australasian : '" ’gImperial 8 „ 0 Liverpool and London and Glohe' 700 Northern Assurance - .. 500 Total £O,l CO It is not anticipated, however, that this will bo a total, loss, a considerable reduction having to be made for salvage-in some instances. The following vs: os’ complete a'list of the property as we could obtain Victoria Hotel (Allan and Hill). Mr Posseniskio’s, tailor and outfitter. Mr Halyday’s upholsterer. Mr W. Rattray’s draper. Mr 11. Hampton’s tailor. Mr James’s new Q,C.E. Bedford Boarding-house. Mr Montague’s toy and mnsic dealer. Mr Cucksey’s (empty shop). Star of Peace Eating-house (O’Brien’s). Victoria P-oarding-house (Powell’s). Mr Bowden’s, tailor. Mr White’s, baker. Mr Canning’s bakery, injured. Two dwelling-houses. Mr Phillip’s store. Loan Office. Caledonian Boarding-house (Jackson). WATER StTppf.T AND PROGRESS OP THE TEMPERANCE Movement.—At a meeting of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, held recently, Mr Osmund Lewis, the secretary, intimated that he had on the previous day presented three petitions to the Provincial Council with the view of obtaining a supply of pure water to the citizens of Auckland. He was met by remarks from members of the Council that it was not the duty of teetotallers to interfere in the subject. Ho mentioned the names of two members who were opposed to the petitions, and who, he said, had made a fortune through the sale of intoxicating liquors. The first petition was sighed by 120 confirmed teetotallers in the city. The next emanated from the Total Abstinence Society, the first signature to which, was that of LieutenantColonel Kenny, president of the society, -and a inember of the Legislative Council; and'the third was presented from the Eechabite Society—a society which was daily gathering strength and increasing in usefulness. The Total Abstinence Society was endeavoring to benefit, the community, and was deserving of their support in return. It was estimated that £120,000 a year was spent in the province of Auckland in intoxicating liquors, being at the rate of £6 per head, which afforded sufficient proof that (her# was a wide field for the operation of such societies as that in connection with which they had assembled. He had received a challenge from a gentleman that if he (Mr L.) succeeded in obtaining pure water for the citizens, he would guarantee 200 additional members to the society, as many persons would leave of drinking when they could obtain a drink of that more pure, refreshing, and delicious beverage. A number of persons enrolled their names as total abstainers, and a collection of temperance publication! were eagerly purchased by those present. Bobberies at the Fire.—The scene of a conflagration always affords a favourite opportunity to persons intent on plunder. Several robberies were committed at the late, fire in Shortland-street and we are happy to state that in one of these cases the miscreant will be made amenable to justice. Some articles of clothing were stolen from the drapery establishment of Mr Rattray during the confusion. At a quarter past four o’clock in the morning constable Donnelly observed a per-

son corning down Fort-street with a pair of uetvtrousers, and on examination saw the price ticket attached to them. On arresting him and making further examination, he found a pair of tweed trousers wrapped round his body underneath his shirt. The man’s name is Johan Von Tien, a German, and a carpenter in the employ of Mr. Holdship, builder. Ho was tdken into custody, and will be brought before the Eesident Magistrate to-day. Amongst the many robberies at the fire, the following offenders have been detected, and will be brought up before His Worship this morning on charges of larceny :—Fredk. James, John Watson, Peter Gomez, Arthur Blake, and Murray. The articles stolen were principally drapery goods from the store at the rear of Mr James’s new hotel, and the property of Mr. William Eattray.

A coroner’s inquiry into the cause of the fire will de held by order of the insurance companies in a day or two. Mr. Whitaker, who arrived by the Petrel from Coromandel, has brought up 322 ounces of gold, the produce of the Lxnpauga Company’s claim. This makes 1,163 ouuces which this claim has produced within three months. What will Dr. Hector say to tins ?