ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1858, 7 July 1874, Page 3

ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Eaely on Saturday morning Parnell was. jthe scene of the usual and now nightly, .expected conflagration. It is now nearly impossible to believe that thesedestructiye 'fires are the result of accident. ■ It miy [reasonably be anticipated that at some [future day we shall have a confession from ;Bome scoundrel''or other,who will give in ja vain-glorious fashion a graphic narrative of his adventures, and then we shall only i want another Hogarth to render tbe " Inj cendiary's Progressas well jknown as |the Rake's or Harlot's. Mr Olson's ! sauce storehouse was totally destroyed by jfire between three and:, four o'clock;;this imorning with the contents, consisting of £2,000 worth of tomato sauce and a large : quantity of bottles. The story of the disaster is soon* .told. The store is or was a two-storey brick' building about 85 feet by 25 feet and 30 feet bigh,'joined at the back by a wooden structure of greater' area, though not so high. It stood on the east side nearly at the bottom of the : St. George's Bay Road, .opposite the manufactory,',) and : dwelling-ho,UBe of. the proprietor, which stand side byside. .'At the hour above mentioned Mrs Ueeves.'a lady staying with some friends whooccupy the house immediately adjoining = the manufactory on the lower side—Mr Olson's house js r above—was attending to a sick child when slie observed a red glare upon the windows, and. at the same time heard the crackling of flames. Looking out she saw flames coming from the lower - front window of the store. She immediately descended the stairs, and running to Mr Olson's residence gave the alarm to that gentleman, who was fast asleep. By the time Mr Olson was roused and had come down, the fire had obtained a firm hold on the brick building. Nothing cduld be done to arrest the blaze, There is a little : creek at the bottom of the gully close by, but there being no appliances at hand the water there was of no use. So quickly did the flames spread that before lialt-past three they were in possession of the entire : structure. An attempt was made by 'Mr Ohlson to save some of the stock, but it was unsuccessful. Only three crates of bottles were brought out. The stock and premises are insured for £2,000 in the New Zealand office, and the stock for another £1,000 in the Royal. Ther ( e is the, samj complete mystery as to the origin of {.he fire which has distinguished other similar calamities lately. . The buildings were purohased some years ago by Mr Ohlaon t'rom'Oolonel Murray. 1