FIRE AT TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 391, 5 July 1866, Page 4

FIRE AT TARANAKI.

(From the Taranaki News. 14th June.) On Saturday morning at half-past two the town v%as thrown into state of alarm by the cry of Fire. In a few minutes a considerable number of people hud collected in Currie-street, the scene of cunflagraiion, and it was then perceived that the lire had broken out into the store of ntessra Wultv and Company, adjoining Mr King’s on tho east or sea side, and the old Mechanics’ Institute on the town side, both wooden buildings, and the latter so dry and dilapidated as to form of itself a perfect firebrand. At first the diliieuity appeared how to arrange the people to tne best advantage, many calling for some one to take the lead. The Jlev Archdeacon Govett and W. Halse, Ksq. were amongst the earliest mi the spot and took tlie charge of arresting the fire towards Dcvou-street, while Captain Hoiibrd directed Ins exertions to saving the house and premises of Mr King. For a considerable time the want of ladders, axes &c., was severely felt, there being no fire brigade in town, nor any provision for su;h an emergency as a fire. About 3 o’clock Colonel VVeare and a number of officers came upon the ground with a body of the suth Regiment and a small engine belonging to tho Commissariat, and then thework of subduing the flames and preventing their further spreading went ou with vigor. We regret to state that a nimb. r of men, said to be Military Settlers, refused their co-operation, demanding, when they were asked to assist, who was io pay r Such conduct exhibits a slate of degradation wh.ch we ahould scarcely ha e expected of niilitaey settlers. This, we are assured, cannot be a type of the whole of ibis bouy, for if so, our military settlements ever flourishing, wouhi be hopeless. A few, however, of this class nobly redeemed the character of their order, by exerting themselves so vigorously as to be mentioned with great praise. The engine from its arrival on the ground (its being seen to be impossible to save Messrs Watty & Co.’s store) was kept continually plying on Mr Hood’s, and the surrounding building. For a time it was thought to be impossible to prevent the flames from spreading. Mr Hoods’ store having frequently caught fire, and if this had been the case, the whole of that portion of the Town must have been destroyed. It was fully two hours after the fire was first discoverer, that it was got under, considering the very inflammable character of the buildings, on all sides, it is most astonishing and fortunate, that the devastation was checked, when and where it was. Between the Mechanics’ Institute and Mr Hood’s large store, there was a small building, also belonging to Mr Hood, and used a store, which being promptly torn down arrested the fire on that side; as it is, Air Hood has suffered considerable loss from damage by disturbance of goods, &c., and his family, (two members of which, were ill at the time) have also suffered from the shock. Messrs Watty & Co., are we regret to state material losers by tne lire, their Insurance not by any means covering the amount of property destroyed, being only for Jt'oUU on tne building, and £i.t*uu on the stock. G. m rui sy inis _ expressed lor the loss accruing to Messrs Vvutly &. Co. Dad tho fire seizeu upon tm-ir boacleU store, in the rear, their loss would ha.o been fully £;iuOu. How the tire originated, is not known, nor are we able to state the loss incurred. This is the first serious fire, which has occurred in Aew Plymouth for many years, and has served to show, with uumistakeabie distinctness, the loUi inefficiency of the means at hand, in the e cut of another fire breaking out m the heart ol tho towu.