AUCKLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 647, 14 January 1869, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN FORT-STREET. (New Zealand Herald, 29th Dec.) Ab3UT half past uine o'clock last night the alarm bells of the city rang out their warning of fire. Queen street was filled at the time with loungers, and the theatre, and exhibition of jug gling contained a large number of people, a great proportion of whom rushed out at the first alarm. The rumor soon spread that it was in the direction of Point Britomart, and a rush was at once made up Shortland-street and towards Fort-street, when a dense volume of smoke could be seen rising from the bonded stores of Mr Walter Grahame, in Fort-street. Almost the whole of the police, with Mr Commis sioner Naughton, were immediately upon the spot and wore very shortly I afterwards followed by the Fire Bri gade engine, under Mr Superintendent Asher. A difficulty was immediately experienced in obtaining a supply 01 water, the tide being too low for an depth in the intake, and finally the hoses were laid on from the plugs in Shortland-street, and the engine was got under weigh. Soon afterwards the second eugine arrived, but it was not until about 11 o'clock that it was got into working order. The volunteers turned out, as had been arranged should be the case on such an occasion, and proved of much service in keeping lacsk the crowd, and guarding the goods which were in course of removal. The fire, when first observed, had obtained a strong hold in the iron store immediately below Mr Grahame's house, at present occupied by Mr M. Somerville. In this building was stored a quantity oi bonded goods, chiefly coffee and chicory, with some small amount of geneva and rum. The flames rapidly communicated through the bulks-head with the adjoining store, in the direction of the harbor, and by the time the first engine got fairly to work, the fire had obtained a firm old. Previously to this, however, under the direction of Mr Naughton, the locks of the outer store had been broken, and the doors forced open, and a large number of hogsheads of spirits (ab-jut 70) were rolled out. A quantity of sugar, in value abcut .£7OO, and the property of Messrs Roberton and Co., was removed to the outside of the store ; this proved afterwards to have been a false step, and the sugar was subsequently again removed to the scoria store immediately adj 'ining, with the loss of some portion of it. The efforts of the firemen wore about this time mainly diirected to the saving of the neighboring buildings, and with this view a constaut stream of water was thrown upon the contiguous roof and windows, About a quarter past ten the flames burst out in the most terrific manne.t, rising to an enormous height. Some ' portion of the spirits and sugar had evidently become ignited, and streams of blazing alcohol ran from the interstices of the iron walls. The houso of Mr Grahame was in imminent danger for a long time, and it was only by the most strenuous aud continuous exer» , tions on the part of several volunteers who were on spot the that it was saved from destruction. The walls were covered with blankets and water thrown over themby means of buckets. Amongst those to whose exertions is mainly owing the salvation of the house we observed Messrs A. Sheath, Benzoni, Fitzmaurice, H. Keesing, Hood, Pierce, and L. Bowden. The violence of the fire in the stores did not at all abate until about eleven o'clock, at which time the material for its consumption having become exhausted, it began to lose force, and thenceforward gradually succumbed to the streams of water which were directed upon it. A very large number of the merchants and tradespeople of the city were assembled to witness tho ! fire, aud many of them were very en- : ergetic in their endeavors to assist the Fire Brigade. Throughout the whole ■ affair there was no lack whatever of ( volunteers who crowded forward when I required and worked most manfully. Without their hearty co-Operation but a very small proportion of the ; goods would have been saved. It is; a matter much to be regretted that the engines of the Fire Brigade are not more effective when required. A very considerable amount of delay was experienced last night before the second engine wa§ got under weigh.

Every credit is due to the superintendent and the men of the Brigade for their energy and smartness, but there seems always to be such a lack of system. There are, in fact, " too many cooks," and it seems to be a matter quite ignored that the super intendent should have the direction of affairs. During the early part of the fire, a carriage, the property of Mr Harris, was saved by being dragged out of a shed in which it was stored. The exact locality of the first of the fire is believed to have been a stable at the Eastern end of the store, in which it was first observed. There is, however, much uncertainty on the matter; there was no straw or hay in the stable, which had not been used fur some time.

Amongst those present and assisting at the fire, wo noticed Messrs Walter Grahame, J. Iloberton, Nathan, and most of the principal merchants of the city.

The whole of the stores were insured in the Liverpool and London office for £o 0000, but the portions destroyed form only a small portion—the centre of the block. The New Zealand Insurance Company's loss will be very trifling, a large portion of the goods destroyed having been quite uniusured About 12 o'clock last night no further danger was to be apprehended from the spread of the fire, but the engines contined to play upon the red hot ruins. Major Heaphy, V.C., was very conspicuous in his kindly efforts in averting danger from Mr Grahame's house. It is rather a singular circumstance that fourteen years ago this same month the same block of buildings was destroyed by fire. We believe that a man named Moyle was the first to give the alarm and ring the fireball. It is a matter of great thankfulness that the fire did not' spread further, for had there been any breeze from the northward there would have been every chance of the destruction of the upper portion of the Crescent.