FIRE ON TE ARO FLAT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5120, 21 August 1877, Page 2

FIRE ON TE ARO FLAT.

Shortly before one o’clock this morning all the fire bells in the city gave an alarm, and in a few minutes, as is usually the case, a number of people might be seen rushing along the streets in the direction of Te Aro, where a> lurid glare in the sky proclaimed the existence of a conflagration. On reaching the scene of the disaster, it was discovered that a small weather-board house in the occupation of Messrs. Evenden and Thornton, manufacturers of fire-kindlers, was in flames, which quickly spread to an adjoining tenement in the occupation of Mr. Langton, a clerk in Mr. McKirdy’s office. The Wellington Fire Brigade was on the spot in a very few minutes ofter the alarm was given, and was followed shertly afterwards by the Central and the A.O. Brigades, under whose united exertions the fire was got under in about half an hour ; but not before the first-mentioned house was totally destroyed and the other nearly so. Mi-. Langton’s house, which was completely gutted, had recently changed owners, the tenant not having yet paid his first week’s rent to the new landlord. These premises were stated to be insured, but for what amount we were un. able to ascertain. The other building, we learn, was uninsured. The value of the property destroyed is estimated at about £3OO. But for the promptitude of the brigades, and the will, ing' assistance rendered by the police and bystanders, the fire might have spread, and very much more serious results have ensued. There was a good supply of water in the mains, which also materially assisted in ex. tinguishing the fire in so short a time.