Fire in Wellington.

Manawatu Herald, 13 January 1898, Page 3

Fire in Wellington.

TIMBER YARD AND BUILDINGS DESTROYED. A destructive fire broke out at Waterloo quay shortly after midnight in the timber yard of Mr W. Chalmers yesterday and in a very short time a large quantity of timber, the cooperage adjacent, and Mr A. McOardle's stable were one mass of flame?. A heavy wind was blowing from the north, and by the time the Brigade arrived on the scene the fire had got inch a hold that it wai leeo

that it must prove of a very destructive nature. There were twelve horses in the stables, but these were liberated by the police, who were promptly on the scene, with the assistance of one or two civilians, who entered the stables at considerable risk to effect the rescue. It seemed for a time as if the flames would not pierce the iron walls of the 12-roomed house in the next section, in the occupation oi Mr J.Ring, but presently the galvanised iron began to melt and the wooden portions of the building to burn, and within half an hour from the outbreak of the fire this place was also in flames. Soon some of the timber heaps in Mr W. Booth's yard were aflame, and it appeared for seme time as if the premises of the Wellington Meat Export Company would inevitably be destroyed. At 1.20 a.m. the walls of the boardinghouse fell in, and from that time there was no further danger for the freezing works, although the sparks were blown everywhere by sudden gusts of wind, and the heat from the burning masses of timber was such as to keep at a respectful distance the thousands of people who ha& assembled.