ANOTHER GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND

Southland Times, Issue 1144, 19 April 1869, Page 3

ANOTHER GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND

(From the Herald, 3rd April.) A fire, the results of which proved most disastrous, broke out yesterday morning iri Qjueen-streei. About 3.15 the alarm was given by the tells, and shortly afterwards the Wharf Hotel was discovered to be in flames. Before half, past three the entire block of" wooden buildings extending from Taylor's Dining Rooms to Messera Lusk's store, and lying back as far as the small street parallel to Queen*str«et, was in a blaze, and fell in. The buildings at the back destroyed consisted chiefly of the bade premises of the Wharf and Orpheus Hotels, the inhabitants of which places, unfortunately, had not time to carry out much of their furniture. Taylor's Dining Rooms caught fire about a quarter to four, and were very shortly gutted, the "stuff" being, however, mostly saved. At 4 a^m. the whole block between Lusk's stores and the ftour mill was a mass of red hot timber, and an enormous crowd had congregated in the streets. The Wharf Dining Rooms (Taylor's) was the property of Mr T. B. Hill, chemist. The store next to this was leased by Mr C. Davis, and a large quantity of goods were stored in it. The Orpheus Hotel was, we undersand, the property of Mr Nolan, and was insured. The Wharf Hotel, adjoining, was owned by Mr Dingal, but was rented by Mrs Gibson. The family in this house had a narrow escape of their lives. The large store just vacated by Mr D. Weir, who has recently removed higher up the street, was the property of Mr Black, of Hobson-street. A little before four the roof of Messrs Lusk and Hill's places began to burn ; by means of ladders and buckets, however, this danger was averted in about 15 minutes. As the front doors of Taylor's dining rooms burst open, at 4.15, the flames burst out with renewed fury, and the heat on the opposite side of the street was intense. In the Orpheus Hotel, occupied by Mr Montgomery, the inhabitants were almost suffocated, so rapid was the progress of the fire. A quantity of spirits and beer lately got in was in the cellars and will be probably all destroyed, as well as the books and papers and about half of the furniture. The bed clothes were also destroyod. The family escaped in their night dresses and took refuge in the Waverly Hotel. Shortly after 5 o'clock the fire began sensibly to diminish, partly owing to the want of further material, and partly from the continuous play of the engines. At 5 o'clock, the hour of our going to press, the fire was completely under, the ruins still remaining red-hot and smoking. The following are the insurances,: — Northern: Wharf Hotel building, the property of Mr Dingwell, £300. Victoria : Stock and furniture, Wharf Hotel, the property of Mrs Gibson, £200. Royal: Weir's store, owned by Mr A. Black, building, £400 ; Mr Davis's store, occupied by Mr Meyer's, building only, £300; Orpheus Hotel, the property of Mr Nolan, building £300. New Zealand Insurance Company : Taylor's Dining Rooms, owned by T. B. Hill, £200, on the building. The stock in Mr Weir's store was insured in the New Zealand and Royal Insurance Companies for £1,200, but it had all been removed to his back premises a few days prior to the fiire, the necessary notice beiDg given. • The policy of the goods owned by Mr j H. S. "Meyer's expired about a, fortnight ago, and they were therefore uninsured at the time of the fire.