THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE AT MELBOURNE.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1103, 21 June 1882, Page 2

THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE AT MELBOURNE.

We supplement our account of the above fire with the particulars given in the Melbourne Age of Thursday : — "Yesterday morning, shortly before 11 o'clock, a tire of considerable magnitude broke out at the Government Printing-offices, and before it could be got under, the main building, consisting of three flats, was completely gutted. The first appearance of the disaster was seen by Mr. (VMara, caretaker of the new Government offices, who immediately telephoned to the Insurance Fire Bridade station ! Jjittle Collins-street, intimation also being conveyed by Constable Carter, but as the men were away at the demonstration in the Agricultural Society's grounds, no fireman were aviliable. In the meantime, Mr. O'Mara, with Constable Hollard and several other willing hands, used the hose belongingto the public offices on the burning building, the flames, which had appeared to have originated in the bookbinding room, having this time gained the mastery. Other messengers had been despatched with the intelligence of the out break, and before long the Sydney Insurance, Sydney Volunteer, Fitzoy, and various up-country brigades arrived upon the scene, and under the direction of Superintendent Hoad, a systematic attempt was made to keep the fire in check, though at first the firemen, from their too great number appeared to hamper each others movements, and much retarded the subjection of the deavouring element Superintenant Hoad bust open the iron door of the passage between the main building and the large composing and machinery rooms and with the aid of the men with the hydrants at the south eastern end of the offices] the fire, through still burning fiercely and casting a lurid glare around, was in some sort subdued and confined to the portion of the offices where was great fear that the southern wall of the edifice would topple over, and from this circumstance, coupled with the fact that the lead coping had become molten, and dropped incessantly to the ground, the position of the firemen under the wall was very dangerous, and several members of the Collingwood Union Fire Brigade, who essayed to enter the midst of the Hre, and played the water on to the flames, were loudly cheered by the immense concourse of spectators. The wall, however kept its place, and serious casualties through its downfull were averted. The pressure of the water was extremely good. The firemen worked with almost superhuman energy. The destruction of the building still progressed with great ripidity, and rather came crashing down, until the two upper flats, as well as the roofcollapsed completely and came tumbling down. The wind, which had been blowing very strongly, seemed but to fan the flame, and serious fears were at this time entertained that in spite of all exertions the fire would spread to the front offices, and as these contained important State documents it was felt that if these were consumed it would be an irreparable loss, and entail the most serious inconvenience to the country. Fortunately, this did not occur. The fire still burned with redoubled force, but its fury was restrained, both from the offices named and the principal composing room and the machinery room, which wore tindamaged, except slightly l>y water. The conflagration raged with groat fierceness, owing to the inflammablo nature of the articles in the rooms, and it was not until half-past one that all danger of its spread could lie said to bo over. The building destroyed comprised three floors. The upper onewas devoted to the Itook-binding department, the middle as composing and stereotyping rooms, and basement floor was used in the printing office, and it is in this last part that the least damage was done, and which could the easiest be repaired. As related before, the wholeof the stock andjappliances in the bookbinding departments have been destroyed, and the total amount of destruction accomplished cannot, oven at a rough guess, l>e estimated at less than £20,000. With referonco as to the origin of the conflagration it appears to have begun in tho book -binding room, which was situated on the top Hoor at the northoin end o£

the structure, and spread from thence downwards towards the stereotyping and small composing rooms. There can be little doubt that it existed for some considerable time before its discovery, and had gained a firm hold of the woodwork inside long before any smoke had issued from the roof. Several persons who were near the spot at the time of the commencement state that they at first noticed a large amount of smoke rising out of the building, but knowing that there was a furnace at the rear of the place they conjectured that the smoke must be from the chimney, but as it increased in volume, and flames burst through the roof the real nature of the occurrence became apparent The dense jnass of smoke which arose from the spot was also noticed by the look-out man at the Insurance Brigades' tower but he at first took no notice of it, considering it to be arising from burning bushes in the Fitzroy Gardens, "but the arrival of the messengers to give the alarm soon disabused him of his error. It is stated that the employes in the room where the fire appeared to have begun were at work on the evening previous, and possibly to some neglect of precautions the fire is to be ascribed. The damage done, as before stated, is estimated at about

' ',£20,000, but this will be covered by t- the insurance, as the Government have the property insured for £33,000 in seven different offices. However, -much of the loss can never be made good, as it embraces papers and original documents. It was believed, however, that the estimates, which will be required in the House to-night, have been preserved, as well as the principal machinery, which was in the new building and escaped injury. During the continuance of the fire a few casualties among the firemen took place, but none of a very serious character. The sufferers had their wounds dressed at the hospital. The remains of the fire continued to smoulder until ten o'clock last night, and arrangements were made for six constables and several employes of the printing office to remain in charge."