Fires.

An account of some of the principal fires that occurred in the settlement since its inception, may serve to locate several land marks and the dates of old photographs.

Besides the fires at Pito-one and on the beach (Lambton Quay), already referred to in these pages, there were Mr. Good-fellows bakehouse fire and “nine or ten” houses burned at Pito-one in December, 1841. The origin of the latter began in Mr. Reynold's house, and Petherick's one (just completed), T. M. Partridge's store, Elsdon's “Commercial” Inn, the “Australian” Inn, Burcham's bakehouse and several dwellings and outhouses were consumed.

The Post Office fire, 6/7/42, and the beach fire, 19/11/42, already referred to, then occurred. A Fire Relief Committee was formed, and £413 was collected in December of that year.

Mr. Buick of Karori had a crop of three acres of wheat consumed in 1847 by a fire caused by a Native, who was burning his clearing adjoining it. Later on in that year a fire broke out in Mr. May's brewery. The fire originated in the malt kiln. Owing to the exertions made by some of the 99th Regiment, stationed at Te Aro Barracks, under the supervision of Major Last, the flames were soon subdued and but little damage done. The neighbours also assisted.

In February, 1850, a fire, caused by some hot ashes thrown into an enclosed section in Woolcombe Street occupied by Mr. James, spread along the grass rapidly towards the bush, and a strong party from the barracks at Mt. Cook and some neighbours extinguished the flames.

Mr. Manson of the Taita had his barn and about 50 bushels of wheat consumed by fire on the 25th February, 1851.

On Sunday morning the 27th April, 1856, a fire broke out in the buildings and stores at the head of the bay (Old Custom House Street), adjoining the Custom House and Telford's store. The first on the scene were Mr. Raymond the manager of the Union Bank, Mr. Hunter and others living in the neighbourhood, who were soon joined by Messrs. Rhodes, Woodward, Bowler, Moore, Laing, Lyon and others. The engines belonging to the Ordnance Department were speedily put into requisition, and all the men of the 65th Regiment not on guard, were mustered on the spot under command of Captain Blewett, Lieutenant Strange, Adjutant and Lieutenant Lewis. Colonel McCleverty and Brigade Major Coote were on the ground.

Hervey's store, at one time the Custom House, which is on the opposite side of page 411 the street, was in flames, and if the fire had extended in this direction the loss would have been much more serious. This was prevented by Mr. Carkeek, Collector of Customs, who mounted the roof and with the assistance of Mr. Skey, boatmen and others, got the flames under.

A plentiful supply of water, passed in buckets from hand to hand kept the flames under control and confined them to the front of the buildings. While Mr. Newman (Mr. Lyon's assistant) and others were actively employed in preventing the spread of the fire to Flyger's store. At five the fire was at its height—the flames stood up in one tall column into the sky. The Post Office and stores of Messrs. G. Crawford, Telford, Duncan, Hervey, Smith and Co., East side of Farish Street, were destroyed.

The damage was estimated to be about £25,000.

Those prominent in giving assistance were Messrs. Withers, Alexander, of the soldiery, and Messrs. W. W. Taylor, Barry, Valentine, J. Nicholls and Rawlings, Master Alfred Hickson, who showed an intrepid spirit beyond his years, and Mr. Alexander, the daguerreotype artist.

The origin of the fire was not correctly ascertained. (N.Z. Spectator.)

The formation of a fire brigade was the outcome of the fire recorded above. At a meeting attended by Messrs. W. Allen, W. Bannatyne, Bowler, S. Carkeek, W. Hickson, J. G. Holdsworth, A. Hort senr., G. Hunter, Johnson, Joseph, Laing, Levin, W. Lyon, G. Moore, W. B. Rhodes, Spinks, Stuart, J. Varnham, E. J. Wakefield and others, the sum of £220 was collected.

In 1865 a force of 100 men, under Captain Black, was formed, called the “Wellington Volunteer Fire Brigade.”

In 1866 the Brigade comprised Captain L. Moss, Lieut. W. Hobbs, Morton Quin, A. Whiteford. Jas. McNab, Rev. A. Stock (treasurer), C. T. Richardson (secretary).

In 1867 an offshoot (of 50 men) called the “Central Volunteer Fire Brigade” (Captain Black) was established, Superintendent Whiteford taking control of the older body. Captain Moss was in charge of the Central in 1868.

On the 17th May. 1868, an extensive fire occurred on Lambton Quay, destroying, among other buildings, Mundle's South Sea Hotel and the establishments of Messrs. Kane, Carmont, Armstrong, Moffit, Cohen, Browne and Webb.

On Sunday, 15th March, 1879, the alarm went just as the congregation of the Wesleyan Church, in Manners Street, were leaving the church. A fire had started in the interior of the Opera House opposite, which was soon a furnace of flame. It spread to the Working Men's Club, and the intense heat made Manners Street impassable. After a time the whole of the Wesleyan Chapel opposite, from the ground to the apex of the spire, after giving off a cloud of blue smoke for a few seconds, burst into flame. The church and schoolroom, with frontage to Dixon Street, were swept away. The fire travelled on the Opera House side to Cuba Street, and to the opposite side corner also and destroyed the old Nag's Head Inn. Thence the flames leaped across Cuba Street and swept away the Royal Oak Hotel and the old Market Hall, clearing the frontage to Dixon Street. An area of 10 acres was devastated, three large blocks were cleared, and 30 buildings were reduced to ashes. The damage was estimated at about £100,000.

The Municipal Fire Brigade was established in 1880, and the fire police and salvage corps trasformed into a salvage page 412 corps in 1881 with Captain Palmer as chief. Captain V. G. Shannon was chief in 1882.

On the 9th May, 1884, St. John's Presbyterian Church, Willis Street, was burned down, after an existence of nine years at a cost of £5000. The fall of the lofty spire was an impressive sight. The following year, 18 April, 1885. Te Aro House was completely destroyed, the damage amounting to over £40,000. The death of a person who had gone in to the building on the first alarm to salvage some goods, caused a painful sensation.

In 1886 Captain Page succeeded Captain Whiteford. The Panama Street fire of the 27th February, 1887, ravaged the block bounded by Lambton Quay, Panama Street, Featherston Street and Brandon Street. A ship's brigade from H.M.S. “Nelson” seconded the efforts of the firemen to extinguish the flames, which started at 4.20 a.m. The damage was estimated at £100,000. (Fig. 246.)

On the 28th April, 1887, a sensational and spectacular fire occurred at the Post Office and Custom Houe buildings (site of the present one). The fine clock with chimes struck the hour of five when enveloped in flames, and came down with a hollow thud as the onlookers gave vent to exclamations of sorrow. (Fig. 247.)

Captain Kemsley now took charge of the Brigade (1889).

On the 8th October, 1890, the old Government Printing Office, on Lambton Quay, formerly a portion of the first Barrett's Hotel, was totally destroyed by fire. The business had for some years been carried on at the commodious building opposite, but a quantity of stationery and stores were demolished. The Lands and Survey Department suffered loss in maps and the work on the lithographic stones. The drawings on some of these represented the work of years.

The stock of White's “Ancient History of the Maori” was totally lost.

The Hill Street fire occurred on the 28th November, 1898, when St. Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral, for 40 years a conspicuous building, was destroyed. The Basilica now occupies the site.

page 413

The Terrace School, Clifton Terrace, was destroyed by fire on the 24th June, 1901. It was in occupation at the time by some visiting volunteers taking part in the reception to the Duke and Duchess of York (King George V.). This building was the first Wellington College. A fire occurred later in Maarama Crescent, and on the 30th May, 1901, twenty-two large houses in Hawker Street were destroyed by a fire that raged through a gale of wind.

Kempthorne and Prosser's fire, perhaps, was the most spectacular fire witnessed in Wellington.

There are now eleven fire stations (1926), a superintendent, deputy, third officer, 4 station officers, 42 permanent and 86 auxiliary firemen. The Fire Police Corps of 24 members are under Captain J. Wright, Lieutenants T. Ballinger, A. Asher, J. A. Short, J. Ogden. Hon. Sec. W. Lange; Treas. F. J. Ballinger.