Auckland Fire.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1923, Page 3

Auckland Fire.

EUItTIIEI! DETAILS. : AFtKI. \NI >. March 3. When the lire hr, ~e out at M •Joseph’s orphanage en mi, in day night there were 109 chiUivn. ’•» v-s, in the building, besides seven ‘-i- tecs ol Mercy and one lay teacher. Umier direction ol the .Matron, mlei ( laiic. ~it the alarm being given, Hie Si L-i •• and elder boys promptly aUciulcd m ■ the safety of the inmates. They first saw to the removal of the infants, some of whom were barely able to walk. The evacuation of the building , was completed without any ■misnnp, the smallest children being wrapped in rugs and blankets and deposited in places of safety in the open air wljile the others endeavoured to salvage property. The lining and partitions was mostly over seventy years old and \ei\ inflammable. The spread, ot the lire was : exceedingly rapid. Nothing was saved, j Though the masonry of the walls is standing it is believed ii will he impossible’ to ofl’eot a restoration of the ' buildings. ... ! A rojnpaijjn for rebuilding i s alreadv • commenced. I St Joseph’s orphanage consisted i I . two main storeys, on which were dorun- j tnries and dining room, and an aildi- | tional loft used for further sic. ping ; commodation was also erected rome , years ago. On the harbour side of Hm ] masonry wing was a wooden annoe which contained! the bathrooms and | other necessary conveniences, and uj .special dormituijy allotted t’U ‘h . youngest orphans ol whom tlici- i It ranging in agi D’oui about LI months to a couple of years. Alto-: g, tLor there were about Hi separate moms including lour large dormitories. The urieiii of tie' fire, cannot clear,y be i ascertained, but if i- cerium it starnm j iu the bathroom in the wooden annexe. | One Of the- older bays wlm had spec.,, j duties in emu eelion with the overnight , infant section, states lie was awakened , ;,v the .sound O' something lulling m the virility iff ll,a bathroom and burrying in that direction lie found the •■■••'•' oi” fire and flames just taking Possess-' ion of its outer wall. On the opposite wall the gas jet had been left binning . in accordance with the Government re- | gulations governing the management o j such institutions. As tins was the onl. []niiici left ill tlie lea",' ! Clare made the final round <>. "is. tion at hod-time, it is assumed some way it most have bem, respn'isd hi for tlio lire. H' response to a M,nl : i ne -i (k'tae ivnent of 1 moils by teleplimii .u '■> <■ j fire.lien from Devoid m 1 h " m- ' • hastened to the seme, but - A helpless for Tikapuiin, <le-.iti wealth, is a- si.bsia.ilini villa rcsideiici . growing every war. but lms not m - far seen fit to "is,ire Useß ilm" «" the 'l mi hi ing, ts&rstt »- north for generations.