AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 455, 21 February 1867, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

EIRE AT THE MARKET RESERVE. A fiee broke out a few minutes before 12 o’clock last eaening, iu the workshops of Messrs. Mathews and Bartley, buildrrs, situate on the market reserve, near the junction of Grey and Wakefieid streets. The fiames were first discovered by some residents in the neighborhood, who instant* ly gave the alarm. The discovery was, in fact, made at such an apparently early stage of the fire that its presence was somewhat indistinct, and considerable doubt existed as to the nccosity of sound* ing the alarm bell only a short distance away. A very short interval, however, sufficed to show the unmistakeable prsva* lonco of tho devouring element, which anon burst forth into a lurid glare, betokening the firm bold it. had taken of the timber and material inside the building. The Fire Brigade and a host of willing hands were quickly on the spot, availing themselves of the limited.water supply afforded by contiguous wells, and devoted their attention to the salvation of adjacent properties and the removal of the timber in the yard. The premises contained a heavy stock of material, which the crowd materially assisted in removing from the lower floor, for the building was atwo-storey wooden structure, with galvanised iron topsides. Close to the workshop, and only separated by a narrow passage, was a four-roomed tene» ment, the property of Mr S. Cochrane, and occupied by a painter and grainer named George Element. Owing to the fierce ua_ ture of the flames little hope could be en tertained of saving this house, and its contents were quickly removed. A painful circumstance in connection with the calamity was the fact that Mr Element’s infant, which had laid sick some time, breathed its last only a fewhours previously, and its corpse had to be ruthlessly removed. A supply of water was shortly afterwards obtained from the Domain source at the foot of Wakefield-street, and directed on to the house, the workshop being by this time encircled in one gigantic sheet of flame, leaving no possibility of its being got under. By this means the house was saved from demolition, although much charred and burnt. A very short time sufficed to raze the burning pile to the ground, and what was once a commodious and well-appointed building establishment was no longer to be seen. The premises were the property of the occupiers, and were insured in the Auckland Insurance Office, but to what amount Mr Bartley and Mr Jones, the manager, were unaware. Mr Matthews is at present down the coast on business. Nothing is of course known respecting the origin of the catastrophe Daily Southern Cross, Bth February.