WANGANUI.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 644, 4 January 1869, Page 2

WANGANUI.

DISASTROUS FIRE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. (Wanganui Evening Herald, Dec. 2(3.) One of the most disastrous fires it has fallen to our lot to record took place in this town yesterday—Christmas Day. Shortly before one o'clock in the afternoon Mr J. W. Robinson, captain of the Wanganui fire brigade, whilst sitting in his house in Ridgeway-street, noticed a dense smoke in the bowlingsaloon, on the opposite side of the road ; he immediately gave the alarm of fire, and, with the assistance of two of the 18th Regiment, burst open the door of the building, when they discovered flames running along the ceiling of a small room adjoining the bowling alley; the back door was found to be fastened, and was forced open by Mr Leslie. The fire was now along the ceiling of the whole building, and, aided by a strong north-west wind which was blowing at the time, the whole building was speedily enveloped in flames, which quickly com municated to the blacksmith's shop (Gordon's) on the one side, and to Harding's, the tailor, on the other. The street by this time was full of people, most of whom worked with a hearty goodwill in assisting to carry out stock and furniture Irom Mr Harding's, and the Rutland Hotel, and in throwing buckets of water on the burning mass. The scarcity of water was, however, very noticeable, as well as the want of organisation to direct the efforts which were being made to subdue the conflagration, which swal lowed up the dry timber with such rapidity as to almost paralyse the efforts of the men. Captain Robinson was very energetic, and seemed to be übiquitous, giving orders and working with a zeal that cannot be too highly eulogised. About this time a few members of the Wanganui Cavalry, on leave from the Front, arrived upon the scene and rendered most effective service, The large store next the Rutland Hotel, better known as the old Theatre Royal, next fell a victim and was speedily reduced to ashes ; a large quantity of flour and other merchandise was stored inside, the property of Mr W. Finnimore, valued at upwards of £IOOO. A number of the sacks oi Hour were carried out and placed upon , the roadway, but were afterward? burnt. As the Rutland Hotel was now in imminent danger, Capt. Robinson gave orders that the old bar, be iween the hotel and the lower bar, should be pulled down to create a gap, and endeavor to save the main building of the hotel; before, however, the order could be carried into execution, it was on fire, and it was then evident that the Rutland Hotel was doomed A large quantity of the furniture had already been taken out, and many volunteers were inside getting out the remainder; nearly the whole of the large stock of beer and spirits, as well as a portion of the furniture, were, notwithstanding the efforts to save it. destroyed. When the Rutland bar caught fire, the high wind drove the flame across Ridgway-street, and set fire to the hospital; the wcunded men were quickly got out and taken to the Freemason's Hall, in St. Hill-street. After saving all that could be got out of the hotel, steps were next directed to getting property out of the adjoining buildings—Burnett, confectioner, at the corner of the Avenue, on one side ; and Robinson, watchmaker, and

Gower, chemist, on the other. A large portion of the goods and furniture, necessarily more or less da maged, from these buildings was placed in security at the back of Mr Burnett's garden, which, by the way was completely destroyed, the valuable shrubs, flowers, and fruit trees being broken and trodden down in every di rection. Wooden fences, at the back of the burning houses, were cut down and removed out of harm's way, to prevent them leading the fire to the back part of the houses in Wickstead place. In the Avenue, Mr Blake's, the saddler, having been ordered by the agents of the insurance companies to be pulled down, to prevent the fire extending in that direction, was speedily emptied of its contents, and levelled wiih the ground, and in Hidgway-street Mr Allan's, fruiterer, was pulled down to prevent further destruction in that quarter. Happily, these well-directed efforts had the effect of staying the conflagration, and the attention of all was now directed

to obtaining a copious supply of water to pour upon the masses of burning material which yet threatened danger, and, fanned by the wind, carried showers of sparks on to the houses in the adjacent streets. Many narrow escapes occurred, and the inhabitants were busily engaged quenching the fire as it caught the dry shingles on the roof. The Empire Hotel was on fire three or four different times ; the Phoenix Hotel (M'Gregor's), Bamber'a (blacksmith), Hurley's (baker), and M'Niven's (grocer), also ignited, but were speedily quenched. Strange to say, the large store of Mr Burnett, at the corner of Victoria Avenue, was saved, although every window in the house wa3 broken, and the walls of [the building greatly ssorched. The Odd Fellows' Hall also had a narrow [escape ; indeed, a portion of fencing and one end of the lodge room was on fire, but was extinguished before any material damage ensued. The fireengine belonging to the 18th Regt* did good service in playing upon the masses of burning timber as soon as a sufficient supply of water could be obtained. Where all, with very few exceptions, worked with a will, it is invidious to particularise; we may, however, be pardoned for alluding to the excellent conduct of the men of the 18th RegL, for had they been saving their own properties, they could not have acted in a better manner than they did yesterday. Lieut. Butts» 18th Royal Irish, Major Noake, Messrs. T. B. Taylor, T. M'Donougii, G. F. Allen, T. Cummins, Chubbins, Harvey (of Manson and Harvey), and Captain Robinson, also rendered themselves conspicuous by their exertions to save property and stay the devouring element. Happily, no serious accident occurred, although there were some rather narrow escapes. Mr B. Sheriff and Mr Chambers were buried under the roof of Mr Blake*s house when it was pulled down; both escaped with a few bruises. Mr Robinson went into his shop to save some property, was overpowered by the smoke, and fell down insensible ; Mr Harvey, noticing that he did not return, rushed in, the shop being filled with smoke and fire, and with the assistance of a volunteer, whose name we have been unable to learn, dragged Mr Robinson out; remedies were applied, and in a short time he was restored to consciousness. Other slight casualties occurred, but it is needless. to mention them.

The following, as nearly as we hav© been able to ascertain, is the loss sustained. We will not vouch for its. correctness, as the sufferers do not yet know their actual losses, but believe it to be a fair approximate estimate. The London, Liverpool, and Globe Company, will be the heaviest losers, viz., ,£3,500; New Zealand Company, £1,250; Victoria Con> pany, £SOO. The houses destro}ed are—Rutland Hotel, burnt; stock and furniture partially destroyed, Masonic paraphernalia all saved, supposed loss, £4000; J. Howe, tobacconist, stock and building partly destroyed, ,£2OO ; Dare, bowling saloon destroyed, £2OO ; Finnimore's stores, stock and building destroyed, £,1500 ; Harding, tailor, building destroyed, stock and furniture partially, ,£1000; Burnett, building injured, stock and furniture partly destroyed in removal, £2OO ; * hospital, destroyed, £3OO ; Robinson, watchmaker, building destroyed, stock and furniture partially, £4OO ; Gower, chemist, building destroyed, stock and furniture partially, £400; Blake, saddler, house pulled down, £300; H. Hurley, bootmaker, stock injured, £100; Liddell, ironmonger, stock injured, £IOO ; Allen, fruiterer, house pulled down, stock partly destroyed, £l5O. Other losses arising from property injured in removal, say £SOO ; or, in round numbers, £9500. The origin of the fire is at present shrouded in mystery, but an inquiry will doubtless be held in the course of two or three days.