FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 18, Issue 1202, 20 December 1871, Page 2

FIRE IN WELLINGTON.

About a quarter past 1 o'clock on the morning of Monday last (as reported in the Independent) a fire was discovered on the premises of Mr Tompkins, grocer, in Tory-street, Wellington. The fire bells were immediately set going, and the fire engines were speedily on the ground, that from the Te Aro station being the first to ariive. The members of the Armed Constabulary were quickly on the ground, and saved whatever it was possible to save from the building, as well as the furniture from the houses adjoining. The eugine from the central station was the next to arrive, and soon got to work, but the supply of water was wholly insufficient, and the men had to stop pumping. The wells in the neighbourhood having been drained, the hose was laid on to the sea, from whence it re quired the power of five engines to draw the water, which, however, was not of much avail, as the fire in the building had so far burnt itself out that orders were given to use the hooks for the purpose of demolishing what was standing. The exertions of the constabulary were very creditable, as were those of the police. Captains Moss and Whiteford were untiring in directing the efforts of their men, who performed a considerable amount of hard work. The stock was a small one, and veiy little of it was saved. The building was, we are informed, insured for £250 in the New Zealand Insurance Company, the stock being a total 10.-s. The small grocers seem to be the most unfortunate in the way of tires, four of them having been buiut out in the space of about a year—Mr Mr Harris, Mr Williams, and Mr Tompkins.