SERIOUS FIRE AT AUCKLAND, AND NARROW ESCAPE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5791, 21 October 1879, Page 2

SERIOUS FIRE AT AUCKLAND, AND NARROW ESCAPE.

(I’ER PKESS ACE.N'CT.) Auckland, Monday. A serious fire broke out lust night in the plumbing, gasfiiting, ami brass-founding establishment of Messrs. Bramton and Forster, situated in a two-storey brick block known as Masefield's Buildings, Albert-street. Mr. Forster, who was sleeping on the premi.-os, was awakened bv the noise of falling plaster. The llames cut off his retreat to the staircase, but he dashed through them, and gained the lower story in safety. The Fire Brigade and Salvage Corps were in prompt attendance, and a high pressure of water being obtained, the flames were quenched, though not before they hart crept along the rirtge to the premises of Mr. Reynolds, lapidary ; Mr. Field, printer ; and Mr. Tunny, Government analyst. Their loss, however, was trifling, for the Salvage Corps looked well after the property. The damage, which may be said to be localised, amounts to about £909. Messrs. Branston and Forster’s stock was insured in the New Zealand office for £1350, and the building by Mr. Masefield in the Royal for £IOOO. The immediate locality of the fire was the lacquer-room, where gas jets were kept burning from Saturday night to Monday morning. A fireman named Boreham had the wrist of his left arm cut severely by falling slates, and fainted from the lose of blood. Later. The damage by the Albert-street fire is not I accurately known, but an approximate computation fixes it at £9OO. The block is insured by Mr. Masefield in the Royal for £IOO9, while Messrs. Branston and Forster have their stock insured in the New Zealand Company for £1350. Both Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Field are uninsured, but Mr. Tunny is protected by a small amount. Nothing definite is known as to the circumstances under which the fire broke out.