FIRE IN CARLYLE.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 177, 20 December 1876, Page 2

FIRE IN CARLYLE.

On Sunday .evening last one of the few misfortunes to which Carlyle has been hitherto subject, namely destruction of premises by fire, occurred. Between 9 and 10 o’clock it was found that the Albion Hotel stables, in the rear of that establishment, were in a blaze. There had been a large quantity of straw and fodder stowed, owing to Cobb’s coach-horses being stabled there, and the light straw soon set the whole building in Haines, Nearly, if not quite every one in Patea, was on the spot, but from the first it was clear that the buildings were doomed. Major Turner, Dr Walker, Constables Buckley and Whelan, aided by Messrs Teunent, Sherwood, Kells, and a host of others, whose names do not at the moment occur to us, worked heroically 7 , though unsuccessfully 7 , and the fire simply burnt itself out. Fortunately 7 , though the wind was pretty 7 fresh, it was from such a quarter as to blow the flame from the hotel, and beyond the stable loss little came of it. The destroyed buildings are insured for T250 in the Victoria office, and, though this is not nearly 7 likely to cover Mr Hay 7 - wood’s loss, still it will go some way 7 towards repairing damages. At the time the fire broke out there wore five horses in the stable, four of them belonging to the coach, a fifth, being broken-in by Mr Jas. McCoy. In addition to these animals, there were several pigs just at the back, and an unhappy 7 clog chained up in the stable. By great exertions the horses were saved, ami J. McCoy at the risk of his life, got the half-broken colt out of his trouble. At the time he did so extricate the animal, the box was in flame, ami the feat was one that he (J. McCoy) paid for by tilo loss of his eyebrows and much of his hair. The greatest credit is due to him, and it is well that he has so lightly escaped. Two pigs belonging to Mr Haywood did not get off so well, for they 7 were either scorched or suffocated to death. An unfortunate dog, that was chained up in the stable, was also burnt to death, and it is only 7 surprising that more damage was not done. This, however, was probably owing to the manner in which every one worked. There were no skulkers on the occasion and all, whether gentle or simple, lent their aid to the utmost of their ’ability. At one time, as the wind veered, it was-feared that the hotel would catch, or at least that Mr

Gibson’s store would be endangered, but, by a fortunate slant, a favorable change took place and the fire, which was furious for a lime, was diverted into a direction where it could do little harm. A toi-toi whare in the vicinity was at one time in peril, and, had this taken fire, Dr Croft’s stahlcs might have followed suit, but any danger to dwellings was speedily and fortunately set at rest. The sum total of the loss may be set down at the stables and contents, two unhappy scorched pigs, and a roasted dog. Borne miserable scoundrel twisted the beads off two of Mr Haywood’s fowls, leaving the latter trophies behind, but carefully taking the carcases away. These heads arc in the possession of the police, and it is to be hoped-that the decapitaior will soon be in equally safe custody.