MORE FIRES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5684, 18 June 1879, Page 2

MORE FIRES.

(pee press agency.) Dunedin, Tuesday. _ At the fire at the Dunedin Athenaeum this morning Lieutenant Carmalt was the first to enter the building, and returned with the Volunteer prize shield, but was unable to recover the Fire Brigade silver cup. The body of the fire was in the library, and appearances indicated that it originated from the fireplace near the librarian’s desk. , The reading-room was completely destroyed, but only one-third of the library was burnt. The damage to the books by water is not considerable. All the books ;in the further room of the library are saved. The building was in flames when the alarm was given, and the firemen had a hard struggle against the volumes of smoke before they could bring the water to play on tbe_ interior of the building. One fireman was injured by the falling of some bricks. The reference library and reading-room were saved, but this was all that could be done. The Athenaeum was insured with the L ew Zealand Company for £3500. The Volunteer silver cup was insured for £SO, but this was found when the fire was extinguished, undamaged. The fire at McCarthy’s house was caused by a candle being left on a dressing-table near the window. It could easily have been put out when discovered, if water had been available. ChristchOboh, Tuesday. A fire broke out at six o'clock this morning in the Hereford boarding-house, Durham-street south, which completely destroyed the'building. The Fire Brigade were quickly on the spot, and by dint of great exertion confined the fire to the one building. A large number of boarders were lodging in the house. They all escaped, and part of the furniture was

Bavefl. The furniture was insured for £l5O in the Transatlantic. The building was also insured.

A fire broke out to-night at about half-past seven o'clock in the five-roomed house occupied by Mr. W. Hoskins, in Tuarn-strcot. The fire made rapid progress, and despite the efforts of the fire brigade and others, comparatively little of the furniture was got out. The house was gutted, and it is said that Mr. Hoskins loses a large quantity of valuable books, wardrobe, &0,, which it will bo impossible to replace. The house, which was the property of Mr. Collett, was insured for £3OO in the New Zealand Insurance Company, and the furniture was also insured in the same office for £3OO. There is at present no clue to the origin of the fire, which is said to have commenced in the back of the house.