GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND. DESTRUCTION OF S. BENEDICT'S CHURCH. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2252, 14 December 1886, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN AUCKLAND. DESTRUCTION OF S. BENEDICT'S CHURCH. [BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Auckland, Monday. The destruction of S. Benedict's Church, Newton, and nino homes by fire this morning is the topic of the day. Half a'gale of wind was blowing from the westward at the time of the origin of the fire in a cottage belonging to Mr Fullerton, a labmrer, in Upper Queen-stieet. S. Benedict's Church might have been saved had the bystanders comprehended the magnitude of the disaster in time. The wind was so stiong that during the destruction of the Church sparks were carried to the cemetery bridge, n quarter of a mile from Fullerton's, where they ignited another house, which was, however, saved. The cro^a on the steeple of S. Francis' Church was burned, but no other damage was done to the building. Se\cral grave fences in the cemetery were burnt. The first to notice the damage to S. Benedict V Church was Mr C.vrlaw, wln>, with commendable piomptitiule, returned to his residence and telephoned to Mr Gibson, the engineer at the waterworks, to get up steam and commence pumping. That was at 4.35. Mr Gibson must have acted with equal dispatch, forau increased pressure of watwr was observable at a quarter to 5 o'clock, but even then the supply was too late to save the church. It appears that about a quarter to four some gentlemen in Gladstone-street noticed that a spark had ignited the roof in the valley between the gables in the church on the side furthest from tho fire. Information was given to the firemen, but unfortunately the magnitude of the danger was not fully comprehended, and their efforts were still directed towards checking tho spread of the fire in Upper Queenstreet amongst the smaller houses. After the fire had got some hold a hose reel was sent round, and here another trouble occurred. Owing to the formation works going on in Gladstone road, a hose reel could not get along, and some valuable time was lost iv lifting the machine along. Then the firemen discovered that the hook and ladder brigade had not arrived, and more time was lost in getting the planks* alongside the building in order to ascend the unusually hteep roof of tho church. All this conduced to give the fire a firmer hold. At length the firemen reached the roof, and the hose was laid on, when the climax of disappointment was reached, for the water would not go within twenty feet of the flames. About this time Supt. Hughe*, having got the fire under in Upper Queen-street, came round to h«e how the church was faring. As soon aa he saw the hold the fire had obtained he despatched men to telephone to the station for all hands to attend without lo^s of time, and to bring tho ladder brigade along. By this time the others ladders had hcen procured, and every effort was made to save the church, but without avail, for it was soon discovered to be also on fire in the valley on the opposite side of the building. A rush was then made to save the images and other paraphernalia inside the church. If there had been any chance of saving the building, this unwise action finished it, for immediately the large double doors were opened, such a strong draught was created that, in a remarkably short space of time the whole of the roof became one mass of flames. A fireman carried the hose inside the building, but when the t water was turned on the strength was only sufficient to deluge them, and could not leach the ceiling where the fire was raging, and dense volumes of hinoke soon compelled everybody to beat a i etreat. One of the first things saved from the church wa.s a large figure of the Virgin Mary, which was carried out by Father Wei^el. Others then rushed in and carried out the figure of Christ, the harmonium, altar fittings, and a number of forms. In an incredibly short space of time the whole building became a raging mass of flames, and the intensity of the heat quickly drove away all persons to a distance. Steadily the fire enveloped the doomed church, and progressed to the Pre.sbytery, and also to the residence of Fathe* Downey, which adjoins St. Benedict's. St. Benedict's cost alone £8000, and was insured for £0000 in the Colonial, £.5000 of which is reinsured. The total insurances £8000, and the estimated loss £12,000.