DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

West Coast Times, Issue 211, 23 May 1866, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN AUCKLAND.

We have again to chronicle the occurrence of another destructive fire in Shortland-street, tho scene of the conflagration being on this occasion, the handsome premises of the '• New Zealander" newspaper, built, as most of our readers will be aware, of brick and stone, and roofed with corrugated iron. The fire appears to have been first discovered at a few minutes past 1 1 o'clock, by the great glare illuminating all the windows of the upper storey, and used as a composing room. The alarm was at ono given by cries of " Fire ! " and ringing the fire-bells; but it was at once apparent to all who had an opportunity of noticing from their stand-, point the progress which the fire had made, that any attempt to save the building would be futile. Very few minutes elapsed after the existence of the fire had become known before the flames burst through the roof of tho building, and rapidly extended the entire length of the structure. The very handsome cupola which surmounted tho roof speedily became a mass of flames, and from the great heat evolved serious apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the long line of contiguous wooden buildings forming Shortland crescent. Most fortunately the shops (the old " New Zealander" offices) occupied by Mr King, jeweller, and another person to the east of the burning premises, were protected from the falling sparks by a roofiing of corrugated iron ; and to this fact may be ascribed thepievention of the extension of the devouring element in that direction. The weather boards at the front and sides of the building emitted groat quantities of smoke, consequent on the heat to which they wore exposed, but failed to become ignited. On the west side of the doomed building, Mr. Pulham's and other shops were shingled, but the light ' breeze that prevailed at the time from the S.S.AV. carried the sparks and flames, luckily enough, away from that building : we are therefore happily > saved the duty of noticing the great devastation of property which must have ensued had this and adjacent shops become ignited. Erom the great length of time which the cupola and its wooden supports occupied in burning, the fears of the spectators were kept at full tension for some timo, that in falling it would ignite adjacent premises ; but this catastrophe was averted by the half-consumed structure ultimately falling into the interior bf the building, and which event was duly signalled by tho usual belching, blinding shower of sparks. From this timo any serious dread of the further progression of the flames may be said to have terminated ; and the efforts of neighbours and willing assistants to remove all available articles of furniture and stock were suspended. In the fearful excitement, however, occasioned by the alarm being given, and the hurried, incautious manner in which too many proceeded to remove all goods within reach, it is io be feared almost as much damage has been sustained by the neighbours to their stock-in-trade and furniture as if the goods had been entirely or partially consnmed. Mr King, jeweller, was 5 un« fortunately away from his premises Qn the discovery ; and after some c6hsiderable delay, it was determined to break into the shop, and the goods were removed under the supervision of the police; who,, it must be said to their credit, were quickly present at the scene of the conflagration, under Mr Commissioner Naughton. By tho time that the cupola had subsided into the interior of the building, the Volunteer Fire Brigade had succeeded in connecting the hose, and procuring a supply of fwater — somewhat stinted in quantity — from a water-plug in Shortland street, nearly opposite to the little Dustpan ; and by this aid the body of flame was sensibly reduced in a short period of time. There was a very largo stock of type and printing material on the premises, and whioh Has been entirely destroyed. The building mid plant were together insured, we believe, for about £5,000. The Royal, we understand, is responsible for £2000, and tho Auckland Insurance Company has also a risk upon the premises or stock,—" New Zealand Herald."

Modern slang words are not always so modern as we imagine. For instance, the •word jolly, in the sense of very, extremely, is at least two hundred years old, for we find it in a serious theological work, John Trapp's "Commentary on the Old and New Testament," London, 1656-57. It occurs in the following sentence: #< All was jolly quiot at 'Ephesus before St. Paul came thither." Trapp's Commentary, we may add, is a great favorite of Mr Spurgeon's.