ALARMING THUNDERSTORM AND FIRE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4322, 27 January 1875, Page 2

ALARMING THUNDERSTORM AND FIRE.

(From the West Coast Times, January 15.) The use of a : new fire-engine, -well named "The Surprise," was inaugurated last evening in Hokitika, in a manner altogether! unexpected and extraordinary;' It was appointed that, at nine o'clock, Mrs. James Mulligan was to christen the engine in front of the Town Hall, that the' Mayor -was to formally present it to the brigade, that there should be a torchlight procession, headed by the Volunteer and Brigade bands, and that there should be refreshments at the Empire Hotel, with the Superintendent and others dignifying the proceedings with their presence. But the "best laid schemes of men," &c. At. eight o'clock there was every appearance of an impending thunderstorm, and by the hour appointed for the commencement of these proceedings the rain was falling so heavily that out-door demonstrations were out of the question, and an adjournment of all details was made until this evening.

At ten o'clock the storm culminated in a quick succession of fearful flashes of lightning and loud thunder-claps, and in one instance the lightning and the thunder were so simultaneous that it was evident the storm was bursting directly over the town. It proved to be so, and it brought disaster with it. The members of the Fire Brigade had not long left for their homes when a flash of lightning, described as resembling a huge rocket or the popular idea of a thunder-bolt, was seen to strike the bell-tower and Fire Brigade Halhand in a few seconds the buildings were in flames. There were but few people in the streets, there being a perfect deluge of rain at the time, and all the lower streets being temporarily flooded, but the peculiar glare of light from the fire, so different from the bright blue lightning, soon attracted attention, and a crowd assembled to get thoroughly wet, and to observe one of the most dangerous-looking fires that have occurred here, the situation being in close proximity to the Town Hall and some of the best buildings in the town. No alarm by the fire-bell could be given, for the structure in which it was suspended was itself the scene of the fire, and it did not occur to anyone to sound any of the church bells, supposing that could have been done. Those first on the spot

were successful in getting out from the Bri«ade buildings both the new and the oldennlnes, and some of the other apparatus, ana thl first work to which the new engine was applied was to extinguish the flames m the boning building in which it had but recently stood. Although it appeared as if theao was water everywhere, there was in the well in front of the Town Hall but with such supply as was procurable of the Brigade"and others worked well, and at least prevented the fire from extending to the contiguous buildings, the nearest of which were the Town Hall and the Union Bank Their exertions were fortunately aided by the wind blowing from seaward, and directing sparks and flames over the open space occupied by incombustible iron pipes intended for the Waimea water-race. The bu.ldmg most endangered was the small structure occupied as a Savings Bank, and to the saving of it, or its contents, the first work was directed This was accomplished, the properties and papers being speedily removed though some of the latter were to be seen flying about the streets, and the iron safe was also got out with a struggle. While this work was being proceeded with, the Fire Brigade Hall came down with a crash, but fortunately few were sufficiently near to be endangered, and then the spectators stood untilthe bell-tower followed, and the big steel bell fell to the ground. The substantial character of the apparently slight structure was shown by the fact of its continuing to bum for a long time, and weighty as is the alarm bell, it strangely enough remained hanging until the whole superstructure was consumed. Even before it fell, the " crow's nest" or watchhouse toppled over and came down among the iron pipes, with the flagstaff which had been first struck by the lightning, and had been withered into a cinder by the fluid. During this time, the Brigade and their assistants kept working the engine on the tower and the embers of the other building ; but, precaution had to be taken not to touch the bell, which was at red-heat, and it is supposed that when it fell, it did so on some burning timbers, and is consequently uninjured. All the time the rain fell in torrents, and everyone present was thoroughly drenched ; but the rain was otherwise useful in it 3 way, and the wind continued to blow, from the westward, and in the direction which contributed most to the safety of other parts of the town. By 11 o'clock, the fire was completely under command; but in the interval, ene of the most useful buildings in the town was consumed, and with it much of the material belonging to the Brigade. In fact, it was enly by prompt and energetic action that the engines and some hose-reels were saved. Alarmed by the crash, or by observing the lightning flash, Mr. Somerville, Mr. Charles Martin, Mr. Mee, and Mr. T. Gale, ran early to the buildings, and exerted themselves successfully in getting the engines into the street; but even by that time the gable of the building was a mass of flame, and the wood of the new engine itself was on fire.

The exact value of the loss inflicted by this peculiar accident is not at present ascertainable, but, of course, the destruction of the buildings themselves is a considerable public loss, and the only circumstance for congratulation is that their comparatively isolated position prevented the fire from spreading and doing damage that might have been much more serious.

By the time the fire was extinguished, the storm was somewhat allayed, but, take it all in all, the night was one of the wildest that has been experienced in Hokitika, and it is fortunate that, neither as the results of the fire, nor of the lightning, have we to record any loss of life. It was at first feared that the watchman might have been in the watch-tower, but other duties of the evening fortunately prevented his being there at the particular moment, and the results have been confined to the destruction of property. With regard to the manner in which the fire occurred, it is supposed that, when the lightning struck the summit of the tower, or the bell, it ran along' an iron wire which reaches from the tower to the engine-room, for the purpose of communicating signals as to the situation of fires, and that the waste and kerosene were ignited. It was well that the occurrence did not happen a short time earlier in the evening, when the Brigade Hall was occupied by the band and a number of ladies and gentlemen, whose escape would have been difficult if at all possible. It is intimated that the christening of the engine and other ceremonies will take place this evening, but this was a resolution-previous to the destruction of the buildings, with the torches, new helmets, and uniforms of the Brigade, and it is not improbable that to-day it may be considered " The Surprise " has already had, like the scion of the House of Napoleon, its " baptism of fire."