DISASTROUS FIRE.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 373, 29 November 1898, Page 2

DISASTROUS FIRE.

WELLINGTON CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL DESTROYED, (UY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wellington, Last Night. For some weeks past workmen have been engaged painting and repairing the Roman Catholic Cathedra', which is a wooden building 40 j'ears old, occupying a prominent site in Hill-street, where it can be seen from all parts of the town. This morning the men were engaged burning off the old paint on the tower, and the flame from a lamp got through a knot hole and ignited the timber inside the hollow buttress. Up this it ran like lightning, and in a short lime the whole tower was ablaze. It was first noticed about 8.45 a.m., when there was a strong head of water on, but the pressure wai reduced from 100 to about 140, ovving to the height of the site. Six hose weie brought, into use, ami as the tower stood at the eastern end, towards which a strong southeaster was blowing, there seemed good hope of saving the main body qf the church. Bit by bit the tower fell in, and just an hour from the start, it was all down. It was then seen, however, that the fierce heat hud set the roof alight, and creeping along tinder the slates, the fire traversed the whole length of the building and at the same moment as the tower disappeared, burnt through the western window and enveloped the organ loft. It was then all up witli the chinch, and the roof fell in. The upper windows were burned out and all the eastern portion was demolished. The onlookers were not altogether satisfied with the work of the brigade, who have coped with other "fires better than with this. It was the general opiniou that the fire should have been confined without great trouble to the eastern end of the buildiDg. A large portion of the slatiug and altar furniture was taken out, and the whole could have been saved but that the brigade stopped work and closed the doors to prevent the draught. The N.Z. Insurance Company has a line of £2,300 on the building, £SOO being re-insured in the London and Lancashire. At one stage the fire appeared well in hand, but made a fresh fctart and gained a firm hold of the interior walls, roof and aisles. The northern aisle was gutted, and the southern partly burned out, practically the merest shell remains, and is still burning.«, The loss is estimated at £4,000 to £5,000 above the insurance. '1 he marble altar which was destroyed was worth some £6OO, and the organ £9OO. All the plate and statues were saved, also the register and the greater part of the vestments. The latter Avere piled on the footpath, and suffered afterwards from sparks. The music was mostly saved. A large number of seats had to be left in the building. Sparks set lire to the Presbytery, eonvent and Lasconie's house. The convent had a narrow escape, as the sparks flew through the open window and set fire to the matting, but, fortunately, they were observed in time. It is possible that the Cathedral will not be rebuilt on the present site. When the building was first started forty years ago the bulk of the population was in the Thorudon end of the town. Now that the city has stretched three miles away a more central locality is desirable, and, following the example of the Anglican community, it is probable a parish church will be erected on the present site and a central position be chosen for the Cathedral.