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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 578, 15 February 1851, Page 3

s;\ AK ,^ INq^'ire ‘ —On Wednesday last about g a y. a man with a degree of reckless-

ness approaching to insanity set fire to some rubbish on Te Aro Flat; the grass soon caught fire and, from its dry state, the fire rushed like a train of gunpowder along the ground about a hundred yards, catching the wooden fence about five yards from Mr. Logan’s house, which being thickly covered with manuka, ngaiau, and other bush was instantly in a blaze ; fortunately it was seen immediately at the barracks by Captain Rhatigan, who instantly ordered the alarm to be sounded and, with Captain Barry and Lieut. Paul hastened to the spot just as the flames were beginning to strike the house. By this time also a number of kind neighbours had arrived, but although from the first alarm to the arrival of the soldiers three minutes could scarcely have elapsed, it seemed scarcely possible to save the house; but the officers immediately issued their orders with such cool judgment and energy that civilians and soldiers vied with each other in executing them, so that in two or three minutes the greatest danger was over, and the fire got under, having destroyed about twentyfive yards of the fence and a few fruit trees. Both soldiers and neighbours showed a good deal of daring as the flames were roaring oyer their heads and around them from the high bushes and ol d paling, whilst tearing it down and dragging out the flaming bushes and prickly furze. After the danger was over Captains Barry and Rhatigan with Lieut. Paul, were long actively engaged in seeing everything in a state of safety where the slightest appearance of fire was to be apprehended ; for the kind exertions of the neighbours, the officers and their men, the proprietor and his family must ever feel grateful.