FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 268, 25 April 1874, Page 3

FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Another fire is telegraphed from Auckland, under date Auckland, April 18 :—, A great fire is raging in Queen-street. King, the chemist, Marshall, fruiterer, Red Tern, photographer, Hurst, produce merchant, deal, hairdresser, and Seymour, . fruiterer, have already had their premises burnt down. The 'Southern Cross' and ' Evening Star" offices and Vaile's buildings are in great danger.

April 19. The fire was confined to the wooden buildings between Vaile's, the draper, and the 'Southern Cross' office, both brick. These were for a long time in danger, especially the;' Cross' office, but the brick wall stood well. The fire originated at King's, the chemist. In taking down a bottle of turpentine it broke against another vial of a chemical; the vapour ignited at the gas.and flamed so rapidly that all in the shop had to rush out. There was not even time to take the cash out of the till. The dry wooden buildings were a mass of flames in a very few minutes. Redfern's photographic saloon, in the upper-part of King's buildings, was destroyed before anything could be' saved. Marshall's fruiterer shop, adjoining, ignited immediately, and burnt with treat .-rapidity.sfThe fire, in the mean-, time, extended t'ovrards the 'Cross' office, carrying with. it. Hughes' oyster shop;; and the shops of; Seymour, the fruiterer ; jCleal, the barber ; Townsend, produce i merchant; and AY. J. Hur.t, produce and coal merchant, . , , '

The eight •buddings; destroyed covered not more than 150 ft. frontage. When'all were a mass of flame the heitt was intense. Only by closingiall the shops on the opposite side of the 'street, and making .great

danger; the engine-r»o:n \\\>-> seven:! times on fire. Ultimately, bv gr.-it. exertions, it was saved, though ih..- wall -,vms damaged by the heat. The water supply was most inefficient. The fire-engines were useless, though the firemen and volunteers exerted themselves to the utmost. The block was just permitted to burn out, the exertions of the firemen being directed to saving the neighboring premises. The insurances, so far as can be ascertained, are as follows :—Norwich Union, £1,200; New Zealand, =£1,500 ; Victoria, £1,500; Eoyal, £100; South British, nothing.