THE LATE FIRE IN SHORTLAND.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 241, 17 July 1872, Page 3

THE LATE FIRE IN SHORTLAND.

The following list is, we think, a complete one of the houses destroyed in Pollen-street on Tuesday momiDg : Commencing on the north side, there was the shop of Mr Gerish ; then two shops occupied by Mrs Ritchie ; after this Douglas’s bakery ; Blundells, watchmaker ; a dress and millinery establishment ; Grant’s, painter ; Evans’, hairdressing saloon and bowling alley; a small allotment with cottage at back ; Hurley’s, bootmaker ; Hales’ shop ; Mrs

Sinale’s shop ; Whitehead's ; Mark’s, bootmaker; Mrs Harrison’s Melbourne Hotel ; a building once occupied by a Mr Andrews- and by Mr McGregor, solicitor; two houses belonging to Mr Driver ; in addition to a couple of cottages at the rear of tho above-named premises. The above list gives at least 17 shops destroyed—totally destroyed. The value of the damage done it would be difficult to rightly estimate ; however, we may mention that Mrs Harrison had but very recently expended over £2OO on improvements and additions to her hotel, which contained a large stock-in-trade. In addition she owned the shop occupied by Mr Gerish, and the hair-dressing saloon nnd bowling alley occupied by Mr Evans. Her loss must be at least £1,500; and to place the total damage at £3,000 would not be to say too much. A most singular circumstance was that the houses which escaped on the boundaries of the Hro were insured, and that of all those burned not one was so protected. All day yesterday those who had been rendered houseless were busily engaged in bearing away any of their belongings which had been thrown into the street. By evening, everything was cleared up, and most have gut their things into some place or other. Pressure on our space will not permit of our giving many more details ; but we must say a few words with regard to the Fire Brigade and their actions yesterday morning. In the first place, they were on the ground veiy promptly after the alarm had taken place, each man .who came down from Graliauistown carrying a coil of hose on his back. It seems, however, that there is only one fire-plug anywhere near the scene of the conflagration, and that one is opposite to the Exchange Hotel. Others ought to have been put in, but they are merely dummies, and for this the Government authorities are decidedly to blame, as had there been plugs at the corner of Wil-ioughby-street and Grey-street, a large portion of the block destroyed would, we believe, have been saved. We say this, after noticing the manner in which the house standing next to Wright’s was extinguished after it was more than half burnt down. As for the delay that occurred in getting sufficient hose to reach the flames, from the Exchange Hotel, the members of the Kauaeranga Board cannot be blamed, as their hose is supposed to be the same as that of tho Waiotahi Board, and the fact that they would not couple up is because a mistake has been made in the manufacturing of the coupling joints. It must be remembered also that the Brigade were away from their own district, and so were not so well acquainted with the locality. When a proper supply of ho3e was obtained they did their work well, under the able superintendence of Mr Mackie, who was the first man on the ground. Had the brigade been supplied with a hose reel they would have been able to have plenty of length on the ground. Altogether, we must say, that the Fire Brigade did very well indeed. Everything was against them, and the blame, if blame there must be, must rest on those who have failed to supply fireplugs in proper places, and proper appliances for carrying about the implements used such, as hose, ect. As to the origin of the fire we have not been able to obtain any definite information.