TELEGRAPHIC.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1439, 25 July 1883, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC.

(Press Association.) FIRE AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, this day, A fire broke out at three o'clock this morning in the Union Sash and Door Factory, Mechanics' Bay. The building is an immense wooden pile, standing on the reclaimed land. There were no horses available to take the engine to the scene and consequently the firemen had to drag it to the fire. As soon as possible the hose was laid on from the pump in Stanley-street and taken across the street towards the burning factory, but there was insufficiect hose owing to the distance. In consequence the fire crossed the street and ignited the stacked timber which was speedily in a sheet of flame, The firemen did all in their power with the resources at hand, and succeeded in keeping the fire within the limita of the faotory and timber yards, allowing it to burn itself out, being all they could do under the circumstanoes,

The brilliant blaze from the burning kauri pine illuminated the whole city. A fierce north-easter carried immense clouds of sparks down the railway embankment, and fears were entertained for the safety of the company's joinery stores, where doors, sashes, window frames, and allthe .finer kinds of woodwork are manufactured; also for the kerosene bonded store, a short distance off. Had that taken fire it would have been bard to say what the consequence would be. fortunately, the buildings were constructed of,galvanised, iron/ and were screened by the railway eru-

banknjiejt.. T|ie v officcs of the company" were-saved owing to v tlie' direction of the wind) sut;the whole; of .the stabling teflidencea. of -,the carters who lived:there;'.were burned..

Tbeorigin- of th»: fire is unknown, .but from the suddenness with which it burst forth; after the breaking of the glass, as stated below, the watchman is of opinion! that .the fire wbb not accidental. Creer, one of .the watchmen, made the following statement:—There are two .night-watchmen employed on the. premises, each: having a separate division, with tell-tales- in each direction to act 1 as check upon them. My round was in the lower division. At a quarter to three o'clobk this morning I heard the sound of glass breaking near the breaking-down machinery. I ; wont' to ascertain the cause, and immediately a sheet of flame burst out, I instantly called out Quinlan, the other watchman, and gave an alarm, and he came arid got the hose ready and in work, while I ran and rang the bell. There was'-; a gale, and the ringing could not be heard any distance, Some delay arose in getting help. ; ■ ;■ ; Holland,- a painter of Parnell, passed the building in a cab at twenty minutes to >thrce; and saw' nb ; indications of fire. When he got to A Her. road he saw theUames suddenly burst out, and immediately drove to Wake-field-street fire'.bell and rang it.

.'v' } '" • AtJdktiAND, Wednesday, A heavy north-east gale passed over the city last night.,: No-damage was done in town. In the harbor a timber barge dragged its 'anchor and was driven on the north shore. The barque Gazelle, lately seized by H.M. Customs in consequence of the Captpin bringing a few pounds of tobaceo, ashore was driven on a reef at Ponsoiiby,

."i:.' CHRiscHURCfI, Wednesday. _ The men who went to< the Rakaia Gorge prospecting for gold have returned unsuccessful, the weather ren-. deririg 'it irapossibls to examine the' country at,present. Further information fromthe alleged gold field on the 90 Mile Beach is to the effect that only fifteen men are prospecting, and that it is impossible to form any reliable opinion as to the value of finds until better appliances aro available for washing. At present there is nothing whatever to justify a rush to the ground.