GREAT EIRE IN AUCKLAND.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 253, 5 December 1872, Page 5

GREAT EIRE IN AUCKLAND.

LATER PARTICULARS.

(From the Southern Cross, November 20.) It appears that about half-past eleven o'clock at night smoke was observed issuing from the lower portion of the brick store occupied by Mr Frank Scherff, next Messrs E. and H. Isaacs' store, Fort street. The reflection of a lire burning brightly within was also shown upon the fanlight over the door. The person who observed this immediately gave the alarm, crying " Fire." A very foolish thing was done by a bysender who rushed up and Hmaohed in oue of the windows of Mr Schertf s store. The fire, although burning fiercely inside, was to a great extent stifled by its own smoke, but the current thus let iv upon it fauned the flames and showed the true extent of the hold already taken upon the building. It was evident, from the fact that smoke issued from the roof along the whole length of the buildings, that the firemust have been burning a conoiderable time before it was discovered. The heat was so intense that it was impossible to approach nearer the burning building than the middle of the rond, consequently the water fell considerably short of where it should have reached in order to have had the greatest possible effect in extinguishing the flames. A most unseembly squabble arose between Mr Matthews and Mr Asher, the superintendents of the rival brigades. Orders were given by one and countermanded by the other, the crowds cheering and jeering at the bandying of words that ensued. The men appeared up to their work, which was interrupted by the disagreement of their officers.

At halt -past 12 the cry was raised that the Custom-house had caught. Several ineffectual attempts were made to fit up the ladders, but iv vain. The ladders were not made to fit into the tops of each other by joints or other means as they should have been. The firemen seemed to be paralysed by the magnitude of the disaster. The branches would not throw water the requisite height, and difficulties increased as time advanced. Ten minutes later the whole range of brick buildings between Messrs E. and H. Isaac's stoics and the lane running along the side of Mr J. Craig's coal-yard was in one solid flame. Shortly after this a portion of the gable end of Mr Bucholz's store fell outwards with a fearful crash. Fortunately the police had anticipated this event for some time, and prevented thepcople gathering in the lane. Had this not been done an awful sacrifice of life would probably have occurred. At 0.45 a.m., when Bueholz's bond bad caught lire, a species of paralysis appeared to have seized hold of all concerned, and the feeble squirting of water at this time was of no avail whatever. The spirits in Bucholz's premises now caught tire, and flames of the fiercest description ascended in the midnight sky. The hungry tongues seemed to lick the very air dry, and one felt as if parched even at a considerable distance from the burning building. But when the flames leaped across the street and seized the Post Office and adJQining buildings, the scene was one pnly witnessed on rare occasions, It waa impossible tp s.ay where the fire would end, and there was a fear prevalent that squares of buildings haA yet to be burnt. The culminating point of the fire was when the wooden portions of the roof of the Government Buildings, which, when standing, formed the feature of the conflagration, fell in, a cloud of sparks ascending which filled the air, and rendered the scene one almost of magnificence,