NEW SOUTH WALES.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 341, 15 January 1866, Page 1

NEW SOUTH WALES.

EXTENSIVE CON EL AG-RATION. (From the Sydney Empire, 22nd December.) Akotuee disastrous fire, such as those which liava lately visited the central parts of the city, at short intervals, occurred yesterday evening, at the wellknown and extensive furniiura warehouse of Messrs John Hill and Son, King-street, between George and Pitt-streets. The alarm bells were ringing shortly before six o’clock, but it was halfpast six before any of the lire engines arrived. Ouo of the insurance lire brigade engines was the first on the ground, No 2 Volunteer second, No 1 third. The steam fire-engine of the No. 2 Volunteers camo up afterwards, together with a second engine from the insurance brigade, and a steam fire-engine brought out by Mr Hodgson, for New Zealand, and now for the first lime tried in the colonies. The No. I Company of Volunteers managed this engine, under the direction of Mr Hodgson. Before any of the engines got into play, a fireuiaa named James Winning, of the No. 2 Volunteers, forced an entrance into the counting-house of tlxa establishment, which had been closed- for the night before the fire broke out Winning removed the bank pass-book and other documents j and some of the insurance Eire Brigade also entered, and assisted in removing the larger books, ledgers, &o. At this time, the flames appeared to be confined to the upper part of the workshops at the back of the premises. Winning in, bis p. ogress encountered an elderly stout lady, who was effecting her escape through the window of the first storey. Tins lady he assisted, and led her along, directing her to keep close to the iron rails j but she fell over in her fright and sustaiuediome injury. The fire at this time, 6 45,.was confined principally to the workshops, and had not touched the front building, out of which large quantities of furniture were being removed as rapidly as possible. At about 7 p.m., the several engines had got into play, and large volumes of water were thrown over the front budding, while the hose of one engine was conducted tome roof of Toogood's Bain how Hotel, adjoining, and poured down m' continuous stream on the workshops. The day had been intensely hot, and ths wind, which was

«t the limo blowing gently from the north-west, conducted the Homes towards the front premises, Which soon ignited. At this time, 7 p.m., the 2 Volunteers’ steam fire engine, under ?' r Higgiags, got into play, nnd the force of the jet thrown on the building was so strong as to smash the plate glass of the upper storeys. The cheers from the dense crowd oi spectators, when the engine began to play, were quite enthusiastic, as it was thought tout m a few minutes the fire would he subdued. Em from some misfortune or mismanagement the tubes of this soon became red hot, the volume of water suddenly decreased, and the engine had to be removed as useless. The flames bv this time had rrpt a firm hold of the front building, and about 7-45 it was thought the extensile prexnises of iVIr Tooofood, coroner of Pitt and lung-si iveta, aml the whole of the shops from Berry Brothers to'the City Bank in George•treet, were doomed to destruction. Fortunately the wind had fallen and was scarcely preceptilde. Tenant's ol fire lashed out in all directions, while tiie air was filled with sparks of fire which literally Covered the roofs of the houses opposite and up Pitt street, on winch were many persons engaged in extinguishing them. The exertions made by the fireman of the insurance company’s brigade. Os well as by the volunteers, and in an especial manner by those who bad charge c-f the steam fire engine, under Mr Hodgson's care, were as extraordinary as they were judicious. The skill with which the water was thrown on the flames, and the stronuos efforts made by the people to keep the pumps at top speed, cannot be too much commended. At the back of the Messrs Hill’s premises there is a large store, belonging to Mr containing turpentine, chemicals, and other inflammable substances, .Large volumes of water were thrown on this building bv n fireman who conducted the pipe on the roof of Mr Toogood’s premises ; but notwithstanding all that could be done, a portion of the double wall by which this dangerous store Was protected fell in. an explosion of a destructive character was imminent. "° such disaster, however, resulted, and the engines continued to throw into the burning premises copious streams of water, the effect of which was every minute noticeable in subduing the flames. The houses on on eh side were well saturated, but narrowly escaped. Owing to a want of organisation, the police were powerless to cut Ott the multitude, who about 8 pm. were very Pearly jeopardising flic whole block of buildings trnijipliiiff on flu* host*, which, in several pieces, became much injured. Still* nt this hour, it was tp am test the fireman had succeed in bringing the the fire under subjection, and their efforts were directed to confine it to the original promises, widen were completely destroyed. About twenty French men of-war seaman belonging to the Fulton, under Captain Loycn, with axes, were present, and rendered valuable assistance. By half past eight o clock the fire was completely subdued, the eng nes merely playing on (he smouldering debris. Mr Hill’s building is insured for £0,500' in the following offices:—Liverpool and London, £2,500; Northern, £2,000 ; Sydney, £I,OOO ; and Victoria, £I,OOO. r J lie stock i‘s insured for £1.2.500, in the following offices Sydney, £3,000 ; Victoria, £1,000; Imperial, £2,000 ; Liverpool and London. £2,500 ; United, £4,000. The drapery stock of Messrs Berry Brothers, which adjoined, nnd which sustained considerable injury, is insured altogether for about £12,000. Injury, has been done to other premises in the immediate locality of the fire ; but we believe they wore not insured. Altogether the fire brigades in this instance have been eminently and deservedly successful, the same confusion was observed as at previous large fires, and unless the person w ho has charge of the fire is vested with power similar to those conferred on the superintendents of flies in London, by which they are empowered to direct the police to cut off tne crowd the fireman can never be expected to do their work with that unfettered freec oni which is so essential in eases of this kind.