Big Fire at Tonga.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 396, 28 December 1889, Page 3

Big Fire at Tonga.

A GRAND SCENE—THE IGNITION OF EXPLOSIVES.

Tss following is an account (from the N.Z. Herald) of the recent fire at Tonga A most destructive fire occured at Nukualofa, Tonga, early on the morning ot tbe 18th instant, when the Government bonded stores, armoury, Mr Giles' store, Mr O, K, Walters’ offices, besides other buildings, were burnt to the ground. Besides a large quantity ot gunpowder and dynamite, the armoury oontained the three heavy guns belonging to the Tongan Permanent Artillery, and the bonded stores also contained a large amount of kerosene and other goods belonging to the various store keepers of Nukualofa. Absolutely everything was lost in the devouring flames. Mr Giles i > a very heavy loser, his store being well stocked with a general assortment ot goods, The watchman on board the Richmond was the first to observe anything wrong. At about half-past 3 a.m. he saw a light through the windows of Giles’ store, Calling Captain Hutton, they hastened up the wharf, and found that the fire had a strong hold of the interior of the store. The alarm was at once given, and soon thousands of natives were standing around watching the burning buildings, but powerless 'to render any efficient aid. The flames spread very rapidly, and soon the whole of the above buildings were one immense volume of flames. The scene from on board the steamer was a grand one, the flames •hooting up to a great height, whilst every lew minutes a keg of gunpowder would explode with a terrfio report, the powder and dynamite cartridges meanwhile keeping up a continuous banging, reminding one of a well-sustained musketry fire. The last explosion was a very severe one, and did considerable damage to the surrounding houses and buildings, the heavy glass chandeliers in the king's palace being thrown down and completely destroyed ; while lamps, windows, and crockery in the dwellings within a radius of half-amile suffered severely, The large zinc roof ot Messrs Donald and Edenborough's coal shed was partly blown oft, and the doors of the Government buildings opposite were torn off their hinges. It seems a miracle that no one was hurt, as thousands of natives were standing around watching the fire. Captain Hutton and the officers and crew of the Richmond worked hard and long in trying to check the progress of the flames, and deserve great credit for their exertions, as but for them many more buildings would have been destroyed and much more property lost. The burning buildings were divided from other Government stores by a large covered in archway, and the fire had already travelled across the roof of this, and broken out in various places on the other side, when Captain Hutton, getting strong ropes from the Richmond, made them fast to tbe burning roof, and all hands giving a long and a strong pull, down oame the entire roof, thus severing the connection between the different buildings, and confining the fire to the western portion of. the block. By 8 o’clock all danger was over, and nothing but a heap of smoking ruins remained.