THE LATE FIRE AT HAMILTON EAST.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1253, 10 July 1880, Page 3

THE LATE FIRE AT HAMILTON EAST.

The notice of the fire at Messrs, Cochrane and Swarm's establishment, Hamilton East, which we gave on Thursday morning was necessarily very incomplete, and we therefore publish the following fuller particulars :— The fire was first disco\ered by some woman who was crossing the square, and who reported it to Mr James Combes. It must have been seen very shortly afterwards by others, for wiihiu a very few minutes after the building caught, which was, we believe, about 11 o'clock, Mr Day.d Combes, Mr Pascoe, and others were on the spot, and an attempt was made to save the stock in the show-room in front, which was only partially successful. At this time Constable Murray, who had passed the place only a few minutes before eleven, and observed all quiet, joined the party, who seeing the hoplcssncss of saving the building directed their efforts partly to removing goods] from the smith's shop adjoining, as well as the fnrnitnre from Mr White's house in the next allotment. The wind being in that direction, the flames from the burning buildinsr were actually licking the gable of Mr "White's nouse, and eveiy boily dispaired of saving it, until Constable Murray mounted the roof and laid wet blankets over the threatened spot, being assisted by those below, who passed buckets of water up to him. Before the lapse of many minutes a large number of people, the majority of whom weie from the West side of the river (roused by the gong at Mr G-wynne's hotel) arrived and rendered very valuable assistance. A line was formed, and every available bucket and utensil being procured, a comparatively plentiful supply of water was obtained, Constable Murray, with commendable courage, maintaining his very unpleasant position until the danger had passed. Had it not been for Constable Murray and the willing band who rendered him assistance Mr White's house could not possibly have escaped. As it is, the end was severely scorched, and the two top boards in the gable were completely charred. Very little was saved from Messrs Cochrans and .Swarm's building, as the fire spread so rapidly. The bellows were taken out of the smithy, and other articles in that part of the building, it being the last to ignite, were also taken out. During the progress of the fire the rain fell thickly, and while it might in some measure have aided, it was a source of much discomfort to those engaged in the work of saving property. How the fire originated it is of course impossible to say, but the presumption is that it was the work of an incendiary, there being no fire-place or any combustible matter in the part of the building first observed to be on fire. Access could easily have been obtained through the front through a broken window. The building was insured for £200 in the South British, but the stock, which was large and valuable, was not covered by insurance: the loss is consequently very great. An inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the occuaK^ Will be held on Tuesday.

It i« >«ood signto see a man doing an aotof o»ytohi3fellows It is a bad sign tahear him boasting of it. It is a good sign to see the colour of health m a man's face. It iaabad sign to see it aU concentrated in his nose. It is a good sign to see an honest man wearing old clShes. It is a bad sign to see them filling holes in his ™ndo r • * » J g«5 sign to iee a woman dressed with taste anf neatness. It is a bad sign to see her parading the streets in costly silks and fatins, when her husband or father cannot pay his debts, or perhaps tt lwng on charity.