THE FIRE IN THORNDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5247, 17 January 1878, Page 2

THE FIRE IN THORNDON.

THE RAILWAY STATION BURNED DOWN. Yesterday afternoon a fire broke out in an unoccupied building at Pipitea Point, which resulted in considerable loss of property. The building was exactly opposite the railway station, and had been erected for the purpose of a public-house ; but a license could not be obtained, notwithstanding that repeated applications had been made to the Licensing Bench. The building had recently been used as a temperance boarding-house, and was leased to Mr. Pestridge, now owner of an accommodation-house at Kaitoke. The building had only been vacated a few days ago, and most of. the furniture we understand had been removed from the house on Tuesday. At a quarter to 4 o'clock yesterday one of the railway guards, Mr. Marcus, observed smoke issuing from the side of the chimney of the building opposite the station. He did not pay much attention to this at the time ; but shortly afterwards he imagined he saw fire through one of the front windows, and on proceeding across the road saw smoke coming through the front door, which he tried to force open, but it was locked and resisted his efforts. He then ran as fast as his legs would carry him to . the fire brigade station in Hill-street, and rang out the alarm, which was quickly echoed by the other bells in the city. He says scarcely a minute elapsed before a start was made from the station with the hose, and within ten minutes from the first discovery of the fire a detachment of the Central Brigade was on the ground. By this time the whole of the building appeared to be aflame, and it was seen at a glance that all efforts would be unavailing to save it. There was a strong wind blowing across the street, and the railway station was in imminent danger, the flames from the upper storey of the burning house extending over the whole roadway. The hose-reel was ran out, This was only the work of a few seconds ; but just as everything was ready for the water to play upon the fire it was found there was not a drop in the pipes. In a minute or two the railway station caught fire, and nothing could be done to save it. Almost immediately after the station becoming ignited, a second detachment of the Centrals and the Wellington Volunteer Brigade put in an appearance. This was less than a quarter of au hour from the discovery of the fire. Even now, had there been any pressure of the mains, the railway station would have escaped destruction, for there were plenty of men and appliances on the ground to have stayed the work of destruction before the' fire got a firm hold of the station. But in the absence of watei the men were compelled to stand idly by, and watch the progress of the conflagration, powerless to save. It was fully ten minutes before any water could be obtained, and then it came in a mere dribble, not thicker than a man’s finger, from the hose, more like a garden hose than anything else Some cottages in the rear of the building in which the fire originated had a narrow escape. Had the wind been from any other quarter than blowing almost direct across the road there would have been small chance of their escaping destruction. The first really effective supply of water which was got to play upon the fire was from the harbor, an engine pump having arrived from the Central Brigade station, aud another was worked by the Armed Constabulary, who, considering the distance they had to travel, were not long in reaching the scene. Fully three-quarters of an hour elapsed from the time the bells rang out the alarm till anything like a supply of water passed through the mains, and then it was at a very low pressure. Indeed, nearly the whole damage was done before water in any quantity passed through the hose attached to the mains, as by that time even the railway platform was burning. We are happy to state that all the railway sheds escaped without injury. The engine shed was directly in the line of the lire, the wind at times driving the flames on to the roof aud sides of the shed, aud it was only saved by the fact of the roof aud sides being of iron. The booking-office, waitingrooms, and platform are completely destroyed, and the only portion of the main building standing is the lamp-room aud closets situate to the northward, and not in the direction in which the wind, which was from the northwest, was driving the flames. The firemen worked with a will, aud made the best use of the inadequate supply of water at their disposal. In about an hour after the discovery of the fire, it was plainly to be seen that the destruction would be confined to the large twostorey building in which the conflagration originated aud the railway station, and shortly before five o’clock no presence of fire could be observed save the smouldering ruins. A cottage at the rear of the hotel building, and connected with it, was destroyed. Four tall brick chimneys remained standing on the •site of the boarding-house, and as they were rocking to and fro in the wind, i- was thought advisable to throw them down, which was speedily accomplished by the brigades. A large pole was placed against them, and with a vigorous shove from about a score or so members of the brigades over the chimneys went. AU the books; furniture, and nearly everything portable in the railway station were removed by Mr; Stone/ the manager, and his assistants from the booking station to the goods sheds before the fire had got a strong hold of the building. We understand that it is the intention of the railway authorities to commence this morning, the erection of a temporary booking office and platform, so that the public may suffer as little, inconvenience as possible. It is stated that the lessee of the boarding-house, Mr. Pestridge, i was. in town yesterday morning, but returned to Kaitoke by the first afternoon train. It is said, that the building in which the’ fire originated was

insured in the ISational office for £SOO, and in the New Zealand for £l5O. We cannot con - elude without complimenting the Volunteer ll ire Brigades on the alertness they displayed in reaching the scene of the fire, and the zealous manner in which they worked to stay the progress of destruction.