1888 - The biggest fire in our history

In 1888 the biggest fire in Devonport's history gutted nine shops in Victoria road, and seven dwellings. It was thought to have been deliberately started by a shopkeeper for reasons unknown. The 'hook and ladder' brigade, formed in 1885, could do little to prevent the fire from spreading, but Patterson's big stables were saved. The fire proved very expensive for local businessmen, as insurances did little to cover the costs. The newly constituted local Council made a law that henceforth only brick or concrete buildings could be built in the business area of Devonport and the Devonport Fire Brigade was formed.

North Shore Times Advertiser. 18th November 1974; p.24

However it was not until 1895 that the full Volunteer Brigade was complete as there was still a fair amount of wrangling to complete with the Council.

The original commercial area that occupied the western side of Marine Square stretched north from the wharf to Clarence Street. Originally the buildings were of wooden construction, containing both shops and dwellings. Some of the commercial premises were houses whose fronts had been modified to form shops. These early businesses were typically those services essential to any small community and included for example, drapers, bootmakers, fruiterers, grocers, plumbers, tobacconist, blacksmiths and stationers.

In February 1888 a large portion of the block was destroyed by fire but one that did survive was the two-storey brick building erected for Oliver Mays around 1882. This is now the Jack Scott arcade .

Rod Cornelius from Rods Rambles in the Flagstaff 12 Sept 2000

It was reported in the Auckland paper as follows:

THE FIRE FIEND RAGES ON VICTORIA ROAD.

The biggest “blaze” recorded in Devonport occurred in the early hours of February 19 1888 and destroyed the business block on Victoria Road from about the location of Messes Gee and Beck’s shop on the corner of Clarence Street. Nine shops and seven dwellings were completely wiped out and the premises at either end of the scene of destruction were badly scorched. The fire broke out in the tobacconist’s shop of Mr Alixis Geath and spread north and south; a heavy rain had fallen just prior to the outbreak and possibly delayed the spread of flames. The alarm was given by Mrs McGuiness who ran to the Pattersons and Mrs Patterson rang the fire bell and aroused the people in the adjourning property thus saving the lives of some who were asleep. Many buildings and businesses were destroyed. Patterson’s block where the fire started contained eleven rooms. The next building, John Jervis the grocer had seventeen rooms. Two buildings destroyed belonged to Oliver Mays and one partially destroyed on the corner of Clarence Street belonged to Mr Buchanan.

Shops destroyed were Mrs McInnes, Dressmaker; Alixis Geath, Tobacconist; James Holmes, Fruiterer; H E Fenton, Draper; Mrs Tye, Fruiterer; Frank Baker, Bootshop; John Jervis, Grocer; Groombridge Robinson, Bootmaker; H Lennard, Fruitshop; Spinley Stationer; Spinley and Howell, Plumbers; Cogan, Blacksmith. The estimated loss was 8000 pounds. They were insured along with stock for only about 1600 pounds.

The Oliver Mays Building which was built in 1882, survived because it had brick side walls. This stopped the fire reaching two shops and the large wooden structure of the Flagstaff Hotel (replaced by the Esplanade in 1904). In the midst of the conflagration the horses in Paterson’s Stables were turned loose…..Paterson’s big stables were saved by the efforts of the bucket brigade, assisted by the fortunate fact that the stables had an iron roof.

As a result of the fire the Council required all buildings being replaced to be of fire proof construction ie brick masonry. The area became popularly referred to as the “Brick area”.

The provincial New Zealand papers nationwide reported extensively on what must have been a horrendous setback for the township of Devonport, you can see from the headlines that the news was telegraphed, but what made it interesting to the readers was open to interpretation from province to province: -

Papers Past, Poverty Bay Herald, Vol XV, Issue 5098, 20 February 1888, Page 2

GREAT FIRE AT NORTH SHORE

A STREET BURNED DOWN.

Auckland to-day

About 4 o’clock on Sunday morning a destructive fire occurred at Devonport, devastating nearly the whole of Victoria street. The fire originated in the premises of Grath, tobacconist, and extended till destroyed the houses and shops occupied by Amos Holmes, Mrs Mclnnes (drugs maker), Jervie (draper), Robinson (bootmaker), Leonard (printer), Coogan (blacksmith), Tye (Fruiterer), Frank Baker (shoemaker), and an empty shop and house. The following are the insurances on the buildings destroyed:- £700 in the Royal, £510 in. the Equitable, and £300 the National. One cottage was uninsured. All those were wooden buildings. Oliver May’s brick block adjoining, which was slightly damaged, was insured for £1500 in the New Zealand, but the stock, which was mostly destroyed, was not insured. Fenton’s drapery was valued at £1200 The buildings destroyed were owned by James May, John Jervis, John Patterson, William. Buchanan, and Mrs Davis. The want of a water supply was very much felt. The loss greatly exceeds the insurance.

Also in the Poverty Bay Herald an item of interest to those who take pleasure in explosives!

It is stated that Herr Krupp offered two million marks for the secret of the new explosive invented by the Russian engineer Rouckteshell. This the inventor refused having entered into an agreement with the Russian Government

Papers Past - Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1859, 20th February 1888, Page 3

Great fire at Devonport.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION)

AUCKLAND February 20.

At about 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, a destructive fire occurred at Devonport, devastating nearly the whole of Victoria street. It originated In the premises of Geth, a tobacconist, and extended till it destroyed houses and shops occupied by Amos Holms; Mrs. McInnes, dressmaker; Jervis, draper; Robinson, bootmaker; Leonard, painter; Cogan blacksmith; Tye, fruiterer; Frank Baker, shoemaker; also the Empire shop and house. Insurances on buildings destroyed : £700 Royal, £500 Equitable, £800 National; one cottage uninsured. All these were wooden buildings. Oliver May’s brick block, adjoining, which was slightly damaged, was insured for £1500 in the New Zealand. The stocks, which were mostly destroyed, were not insured, Jervis’ drapery, valued at £1200. The builds loge destroyed were owned by Jas. May, J.Jervis, John Patterson, W.Buchanan, and Mrs. Davis. The want of a water supply was very much felt. The loss greatly exceeds insurances.

Papers Past, Malborough Express Volume XXIV, Issue 41, 21 February 1888, Page 3

AN AUCKLAND SUBURB GUTTED.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION,)

Auckland Feb 20.

About four o’clock on Sunday morning a destructive fire occurred at Devonport, devastating nearly the whole of Victoria street The fire originated in the premises of Geath, tobaccobist, and extended till it destroyed the houses and shops occupied byAmos Holmes, Mrs Mclnnes (dress maker) Jervis (draper), Robinson (bootmaker) Leonard (printer), Coogan (black smith), Tye (fruiterer), Frank (baker), a shoemaker, and also an empty shop and house. Insurances on buildings destroyed : £700, Royal; £600, Equitable; £300. National. One cottage was uninsured.

Al these were wooden buildings. Oliver May’s brick block, adjoining,. which was slightly damaged, was insured for £1,500 in the New Zealand The stocks, which were mostly destroyed, were not insured. Fenton’s drapery was valued at £1,200. The buildings destroyed were owned by James Mays, John Jervis, John Patterson, William Buchanan, and Mrs Davis. The want of a water supply was very much felt. The loss greatly exceeds the insurances.

Papers Past, Bay Of Plenty Times, Volume XV, Issue 2246, 20 February 1988, Page 2

NINE HOUSES BURNED.

An extensive fire occurred at Devonport early on Sunday morning; it broke out in. a house in Victoria Road, belonging to John Patterson, and made a clean sweep of it, and premises of Mr A. Gaeth, barber, Mrs McGinins, dressmaker, James Holmes, A. E. Fenton, draper, Mrs Tye, fruiterer, Frank Baker, bootmaker,. and four shops owned by John Jervis, and occupied by himself, and G. Robinson, bootmaker, 3. A. Leanold, fruiterer, also the blacksmith shop of John Boylan. Here the fire was checked from further extension, nine houses and shops having succumbed to it.

In 1888 the brigade asked for another firebell to be erected (at Melrose) and a little later complained that the bells were too small for the purpose. The Council decided to purchase bigger bells, a steel one was later purchased, and in December 1888 the Council moved to take over control of the fire brigade appliances and 10 pound liabilities that the brigade had incurred.

And lastly someone who could not possibly been involved in the Great Fire of Devonport -  

Papers Past Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8091, 7 February 1888, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS. [PERl UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.

TOWN CLERK OF DEVONPORT MISSING. Gabriel Healy, the Town Clerk of Devonport, has been missing since Friday night. His hat and stick were found in the ferry waiting-room. The harbour has been dragged without result. It is believed he has gone to Fiji. Domestic troubles are the cause. His books are all right.

Which must have been a great relief for the Devonport Councilors.