THE BUILDING DESTROYED. REMOVING THE PATIENTS. CONDUCT OF THE NURSES. Melbourne, December 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 331, 5 January 1889, Page 4

THE BUILDING DESTROYED. REMOVING THE PATIENTS. CONDUCT OF THE NURSES. Melbourne, December 27.

About 11 o'clock this morning a fire broke out on the roof of the west wing of the Alfred Hospital, just above the main entrance to the second storey. It is supposed to have originated through a flaw in the flue, connected with a small boiler in the basement of fchc wing, used foi supplying water to the wards. Special hoses are supplied all over the building. One was affixed" to a standpipe near the wing, but when the tap was turned the water merely dribbled out, and all hopes of extinguishing the fire by this means had to bo abandoned. A ladder was procured, and a gardener named Dickson carried up a bucket of water to throw on the burning place, which was no bigger than a man s hand. The roof overlaps the wall considerably. In attempting to throw water over the ledge Dickson lost his footing and fell to the balcony some 15ft. He suffered {severely from the shock, but no bones were broken. The brigades were telephoned for, and after the first alarm they quickly arrived, but it was found that the water pressure was mo&fc inadequate, as it barely trickled through the hose. All this time the patients in the various wards of the wing were in their beds. The medical staft were unwilling to move them unnecessarily, the firemen being ot opinion that they would soon be able to get the flames under, hoping that the water supply would improve every moment. No improvement, however, came. The building contained six wards. On each floor there was a large ward, 400 ft. by '25ft. , and two smaller ones about 24 by 10ft., the smaller ones being immediately underneath the roof, where the fire broke out. The fire increasing, the occupants of the smaller ward were removed down a large stone staircase between the first and second floors. The doors of the large waid upstairs were kept closed, the secretary and the nurses encouraging the patients to remain quiet, and not be alaimed, as the fire would soon be out. The conduct ot the nurses is spoken of as exceptional. The flames spread, and it was found necessary to move the first five beds on each side of the large upstaiis ward. At this time tho t-team fire engine was at work, but the fire had obtained such a hold of the loof, and there was such a strong wind blowing, that it became evident the whole roof must go. The work of removing the patients "was rendered very difficult, access to the main staircase having been cut oft by the flames, which now bur3t through the ceiling. Large masses of burning material were continually falling down. The only other, exit was by a narrow staircase at the other end used only for sanitary purposes. Down this break-neck descent 37 patients occupying the upper story had to be laboriously carried. The nurses and attendants rose to the occasion. There was no undue excitement, and everything was done systematically and quietly, but the work was nob undertaken too soon. The last patient had barely been removed from the ward when the roof fell in, and ifc then became a question of saving the ground floor. Every drop of water available was poured on the tipper storey to prevent its taking iiie. This had the desired result. As portion after portion of the roof fell in there was such a flood of water to receive it that the flames were soon extinguished. The hospital officers having received one lesson as to the delay in removing tho patients set at once about clearing the lower wards of the wing, and thirty-two surgical cases confined there were soon removed, together with the beds and bedding. When the fire was subdued the whole of the roof had been burnt out and the lower portion was so deluged with water that it> is questionable if the ceilings will not have to be pulled down. Under the most favourable circumstances it will be many weeks before the wing pan be restored. The whole building is insured for £15,000 in the London and Lancashire Company. So Jar as can be ascertained nono of the patients have suffered from exposure. In the case of chronic patients, two who had been unable to move from their beds for monthswere able to get up and walk so well that they decline any further treatment.

Austria intends to place twelve monitorson the Danube. Ifc has transpired that fully one-fchird of the British cavalry are without horses. It is understood that Bishop Barry will receive the first English Bishopric that becomes vacant. The Maori football team at present touving in the United Kingdom have been invited to a match at the Cape on their way back to New Zealand.