DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN ALBERT-ST.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 799, 10 December 1853, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN ALBERT-ST.

It is our painful duty to record the occurrence of a F’tre in Albert Street, on Wednesday morning, by which the buildings belonging to Mr. Nicholson, including the shed in which he carried on his business as a boat-builder, and the adjoining Black Bull Inn, were totally destroyed, and which, at one time, threatened to involve the houses in the neighbourhood in a wide-spread conflagration. The origin of the fire is not known, but there seems no sufficient reason for doubting that it was wholly accidental. The flames were first seen shortly after one o’clock on Wednesday morning, issuing from the shed referred to. They soon extended to the Inn, which,—being a wooden structure and containing a ouantity of spirits, and other inflarnable articles,—was soon under the power of the destroying element to a degree that excluded all hope of saving any part of ihe edifice. Several of the police and many of the inhabitants were early on the spot, and the bugle at the Barracks having sounded the alarm, the number of those anxious to render all the assistance in their power was rapidly augmented. His Honour the Superintendent speedily arrived, and remained on the ground for a considerable time. We understand thatlhe Commissioner oi Police also was present. A parly of the military, (bringing with them the Garrison Fire-Engine) with several officers of the 58lh regiment, and Colonel Baddely, R- E.; together with a party from £l. M. S. Pandora, all lent their aid, and all were energetic in endeavouring to secure the only object attainable—the prevention of any further extension of the fire. For a while the house efMr. Alex. Wright was in imminent danger, tut hy the united exertions of all, the peril was averted, and the ravages of the flames were confined to the premises where they broke out. These premises were, however, the complete prey of the fire, every slick ol the shed and the Inn being burned into cinders and ashes. We understand that the loss to Mr. Nicholson is estimated at 1000/. or even more.