LAST NIGHT'S FIRE,

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1895, 22 January 1885, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S FIRE,

About twerifcygminufces to ono o'clock last "riight the MMerton fire bell gavo forth "a long loud peal which indicated a serious fire somewhere.'' ' Oii this occasion there was no uncertain sound from the firo alarm, there'being a-good man, Mr Young, at. tho rope. It appears that someone in the}Club'"Hotel caught a glimpse of a reflection and giving an alirir) MeprslYoung,. I]lkins, "Hooper, and ■ Harding, ■ rusl;ed|"up the street. Mr . Young tookpossession,of [the bell, and the others proceeded to Mr John Wyeth's premises which was the scene of danger. The building occupied .by Mr J. Wy eth was a one storey structure, with sides .and roof of galvanised iron, boot shop in front, workshop "and living room in the tear. A few feet to the right of this building Btands Mr D. Pickering's commodious two-storey dwelling, with' a shop .'containing a valuable plumbers', stock. Im-. mediately on the left was situated a smaller'two-storey building,. occupied. a 9 a shop and residence by Mr A. Bradford, the well-known gunsmith. When Messrs Hooper, Elkins, Harding, and others arrhed at the spot they found the neighbours in the adjoining houses were already aroused, and were flocking to the scene. The fire then had a firm hold oil Mr Wyeth's building, and seeing that it was practically doomed, the.first.comers applied themselves to removing the children in Messrs Pickering's and Bradford's houses out of danger, and transferring stock to the roadway, where the police [ took charge of it. While this was going on the red coats had reached .the engine shed and got out both engines and the ■ • hose, reel, Unfortunately there was no water in the vicinity of the burning building, and the Brigade decided to place their portable tank half way between the "creek in..Ohurch.street and the fire. By working both engines a single jet of water was thus obtained. Had water been available within a reasonable distance last night, two strong jets instead of one weak one would have been .turned on the burning premises, and some hundreds of pounds worth of property would have been saved. As it was'the water made little impression on the fire. Mr Bradford's premise's on the left caught alight and the Brigade were powerless to protect it. Mi' Pickering's premises on . tho weather side were more fortunate. ; The heat cracked the windows and blisterodthe boards and more than' once the ' lire got a footing on the building. Mr. J. % Ward,. however,' who'was acquainted ' "with the premises, filled a large bath with .the force pump and a timely supply of . water from this resorvbir "in conjunction with the efforts of the ; Brigado, 'practically saved MrPickering'spremises. Whenthe fire made-headway -on Mr Bradford's-, shop the largo premises, adjacent known as the Foresters Hall wero-in considerable' danger. The exertions of the . Fire Brigade who manned the roof and pro' tected it with -the- hose' and buckets undoubtedly saved this building. ' After the brigade had been at work about half an hour Mr Wyeth's building was level with the. ground and Mr Bradford's a blazing gutted 'frame work. The fall of the roof of the latter building with a loud prash and tho occassional ignition of a cartridge made the scene animated, There ivas a largo crowd of spectators which displayed the customary unwillingness to mail tUe pumps, but those who did set to work at them stuck manfully to their task. A soldier in the Salvation Army was amongst, those who were setting an excellent example in this respect, Between the burning buildings and the crowd' the streets were lined with furniture, clothing and stores. An amateur. Salvage Corps did excel : lent work, removing brittle stock like glass without fracturing it. At length anxiety was ended when it became apparent that the jet from the hose was mastering the burning 'building, and people were able to return to their beds, The night was a dark one and rain.|fell steadily butnotheavily, sufficientlyso, how--eveiy to protect tho adjacent shingle roofs from ignition, The wind was Blight with occasional gusts. Strange to say Mr Wyeth was absent in Wellington; and Mr Pickering was up country. The origin of the fire is uncertain, but there are suggestive circumstances in connection with' it. ; The premises were locked up by a lad at nine o'clock, arid the key taken over to Mi' Wyeth, senior's store. Mr Burns who slept at the back of Mr Bradford's-residence was the fiist to see the flames and to give the alarm to Mr Bradford's and Mi- Pickering's families. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Bradford. Domestic troubles have, it . is known, recently placed him.in an embarrassing financial position, and last night's 'fire practically leaves him without means, as the insurances on his premises do not benefit him personally. Too much, praise connot be given to the' Fire' Brigade for the manner in which they worked this morning. ' . The following, are the' estimated losses andi"insurancesJ., Wyeth's premises: •Building,' value.' £140,. .insured ;• in -:the •North British for'£loo. ;• Stock and tools insured for. ; £6Q: in: .the Northern ; Inpur-:gncVvOlice',',-A: ,B i rMfoVcl l B - insured'Ui .the Niw;2ea- : laid. for £l'2s, the .stock' afld ! . iiiifei'ture (partly saved) is insured in" the' same-

office for £75. Mr Pickering's stock is also considerably damaged by removal, but is covered by.insurance in the National.