DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN DEE STREET.

Southland Times, Issue 1218, 4 March 1870, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN DEE STREET.

At twenty minutes past one o'clock this morning, Constable Pierpoint, who was on duty in Dee-street, became sensible of a smell of fire, and immediately proceeded towards the north end of the street to discover where it came from. On "approaching the block of buildings comprising the Noah's Ark and Mr Reese's grocery and hay and corn stores, the smoke was i very dense, and it was ' sbbn ' observed that the latter buildings were on fire. It is here necessary to state that Mr Reese has been absent from Invercargill for some ten days past, and is expected to return overland from Dunedin either to-day or to-morrow. Mrs Reese and family, and those in the Noah's Ark, were by this time stirring, and the constable immediately rau off to ring the alarm bell, shouting " Fire ! Fire !" all the way. A number of people soon began to congregate on the spot, the lurid glare but too plainly showing where the devastating element was accomplishing its work of destruction. Mrs Reese was aroused by a crackling noise, and on getting up and looking round, found that theiront shop, was on fire. After calling up the neighbors, she had barely time to get the children rembved, and was totally unable to save anything bnfc a few trifling articles from the house, the flames having made such rapid progress in enveloping the building. Those sleeping in the Noah's Ark had likewise very little warning, but they managed to save a few articles that were easily removed. It was some time before the fire brigade reached the scene of the conflagration with their engines, and their efforts were first directed to the cutting down of the back part of the blacksmith's shop in the occupation of Messrs Stewart and EiJdell, to prevent the fire spreading to several buildings in the rear of those which were j apparently doomed to destruction. Wil- ! ling hands plied ready axes, and a gap was soon made which stopped the spreading of the fire in that direction. A supply of water was then obtained, and the hose were kept playing on the burning pile, which blazed away for fully an hour-and-a-half, reducing the whole to a heap of smouldering ashes. One-half of the blacksmith's shop already referred to is left standing. Luckily the morning was particularly calm, what little wind there Was blowing from the N.W. ; and this, along with a few buckets of water, applied by Inspector Chapman and others, accounts for the box at the weigh-bridge being left standing uninjured, A large o!f spectators 'from all parts of jihe .town was soon on the, ground, and [assistance was willingly given where- 1 ever required. Mr Reese's stock and premises were insured with the New Zealand Company for the sum of £500, but this must fall far short of covering that gentleman's loss. The other property was uninsured. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire.