Further Particulars.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4724, 27 February 1884, Page 2

Further Particulars.

(Pee Pbeqs Association.)

Brigade not Allowed to Act.

A fire broke out at onß o'clock this morning in a two-storey building at Parncll. The lower portion was occupied by Gv Biggs, bootmaker, and the upper storey was kept as a boarding-house by Mr Curtin. The fire spread with great rapidity, the building being a wooden one, All the inmates succeeded in effecting their escape from the burning building with the exception of one young man nanv 1 Michael Hogan. Daniel Eeevy, one of the boarders, ~ states that he was awoke by the cries of " Fire!" and, jumping out of bed, he opened the door of his room, but was met by such a suffocating volume of smoke that he was compelled to retreat. He heard Hogan, who occupied the adjoining room, call out, but was unable to render aid. His opinion is that the unfortunate young man lost his presence of mind, and instead of attempting to get out at the window, strove to make his way down stairs, and was suffocated by the smoke. Keivy tied a blanket to the bed-post, and by (his means reached the street. After the fire was partially got under, the skeleton of a man, horribly burned,,was found amidst the debris, and there is little reason to doubt that it is Hogan. When the Fire Brigade arrived, the Superintendent refused to interfere alleging that his orders were not to act beyond the limits of the city on account of the action of the Insurance Companies in refusing to make any contribution towards the expenses of the brigade when acting at the late fire in Mount Eden, which was also beyond the city limits. He regretted to have to act thus, but under the circumstances he did not feel justified in doing otherwise, and expressed his willingness to give the Salvage Corps what advice was in his power towards taking steps to suppress the fire. He also allowed the corps to use the pumps belonging to the Brigade. The fire spread up the street to Mrs Eavitt's house, which was speedily destroyed, and Neill's house adjoining was gutted. Slater's residence, below the boarding house, was also gutted. The total damage is stated at £1500. Hogan arrived here by the Doric, and was employed at the Auckland Gas Works.

Later

The insurances on the Parnell fire are : —South British : £225 on the boarding houses, and £150 on Kevitt's house; Standard: £100 on Curtin's furniture; New Zealand : £50 on Eevitt's furniture ; and Colonial: £50 on Biggs' stock. It has transpired that during the fire Hogan threw his box out of the window, and evidently met his death in attempting to descend the stairs.

Additional insurances—lmperial, Neal £250 on house and furniture. JN"eai only reinsured yesterday.