FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Southland Times, Issue 1224, 18 March 1870, Page 3

FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

(Lyttelton Times, March. 10th.) Another serious fire occurred in tlie heart of the city this morniug. At twenty minutes past three o'clock, Sergeant Pratt, whilst on duty near the Bank of New Zealand, observed a dense column of smoke, which, on. nearer examination, proved to be emanating from the premises of Mrs Paterson, London Kestauw rant, Cashel street. By the tim^he had broken open the door and raised an alarm, Coastable Willis joined him, and at; once conveyed the notice of danger to the Brigade station. Notwittutanling the early hour of the morning, the fire bells were" speedily responded to, and the several engines soon got under weigh for the scene of the conflagration. Long before this, the smoke had burst into a blaze, and in a very few moments the two shops occupied by the Restaurant were hopelessly enveloped in flames. -The shop of. Mr Sandatein, on the east side, was also alight before any of the engines arrived on the spot, but the brick building occupied by Mr Brass, draper, next to it, and a strong party wall recently e.ceeJte.d_by Mr. Pratt, draper,. bet ween, his premises and the ■west side of the BestaUrant, afforded good hope that, with reasonable measures on the part of the Fire Brigade, the fire would be confined to the three shops alreaiy mentioned as in flames. Happily, there was but a very light breeze blowing, and that being from the south west, in the direction of the brick building, further strengthened the hope. The No. 2 hand-engine, which was first to get to work, was placed with its hose up a right-of-way from Colombo street to the rear of the premises. This effectually protected the line of shops running from Mr Brass's shop southward in Colo ~nbo street, and the two lengths of steam-engine hose were laid down Cashel street to play upon the buildings beyond Mr Pratt's party wall. Unfortunately this engine would not work, and what at first appeared to be the certain safety of Mr Brass's stock gradually disappeared, and the interior of the building caught fire. The A only jet which, after a. change of hose and other delays, could be got to work, had been taken inside Mr Pratt's shop to arrest the progress of the flames, which, having caught hold of the fan-light, had communicated to the roof. Mr Brass's premises were thus left unprotected until the fire was seen within, when No. 2 engine was somewhat uselessly played upon the roof, fro:n the rear. But little more than half an hour had elapsed when the walls of the three shops— Mrs Paterson (2), Mr Sandstein (I), had fallen in— the flames in Mr Pratt's building were being extinguished, and the fire was brought under control. Within an hour this was evident, arid all danger of extension was completely over. The Fire Police, aided by the public, saved a good proportion of moveable property from the shops actually destroyed, and almost aU that in Mr Brass's premises. The fire was at its height about twenty minute's to four o'clock, and the showers of sparks blown across the street, together with the intense heat, seriously endangered the north side of Cashel street and the Triangle. Buckets of water and wet blankets, however, saved the buildings, and the engines were not once called into requisition. It is equally impossible to over-estimate the services of the No' 2 Brigade in cutting off the fire in rear of the JJestaurant, as it is to deplore the nonworking of the steam-engine. The full extent of the damage is three shops entirely destroyed, Mr Brass's pr« • mises entirely gutted, and the roof of Mr Pratt's burnt through. The Otago Daily Times has received the following additional particulars by telegraph : — The total damage is estimated at between £4000 and £5000, which is divided as follows : — London Restaurant, everything destroyed, Mr Sandstein's premises, building and furniture destroyed, but stock saved. Mr Brass's premises were gutted, but the principal portion of the stock saved. The roof of Mr Pratt's premises was burned through, but the stock was saved. The JJestaurant had a narrow escape from fire a short time ago. The inquest is adjourned until Friday next.