Fire Fighting Medals & Awards

Lot 1252    Day 1    Fire Fighting Medals & Awards

Estimate $3,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL, Medal of Merit to the Fire Brigade, (1870), plain inscribed medal in silver (35mm), bar suspension with pin-back ribbon buckle bar, reverse inscribed 'To/C.Samuels/For/Good Services Rendered/At/Ln(sic)ttelton Fire/24th Octr, 1870.' A few small edge nicks and some contact marks on reverse, otherwise very fine and rare.

Courtesy National Library of New Zealand - Papers Past, from the 'Star', Issue 756, 25 October 1870.^^GREAT FIRE IN LYTTELTON.^About ten o'clock last night, the sky over Lyttelton was observed from Christchurch to be brilliantly illuminated, and fears were entertained that a fire had broken out in the town or among the shipping. The firebell at the Central Station in Christchurch rung at 23 minutes past eleven, and a strong muster of the Brigade, together with the steam fire engine and the large hand engine, were sent through by train very soon afterwards.^^It was reported by the telegraph that the town of Lyttelton was in flames, but until the arrival of our reporter, no reliable information as to the extent of the fire could be ascertained, as the instruments had to be removed in consequence of the office being in danger.^^At a few minutes past 10 o'clock, some of the persons who were in the billiard room at the Queen's Hotel noticed a crackling sound, and smoke rising from the room below, which is used as a store room. An alarm was given immediately, and an energetic attempt was made to subdue the fire in the store room, by passing buckets of water from the pump opposite. But, unfortunately, the fire had obtained a firm hold, and all efforts to stop its progress were unavailing. The fire extended from the store-room to the Queen's hotel with great rapidity; so much so that nothing could be saved. The Colonists' Hall was at this time in great jeopardy, but the wind, which blew strong from the N.E. diverted the flames to an empty house adjoining the Queen's, from whence it extended across the street to the Shades. From this point the fire burned several empty buildings which caused it to reach Oxford Street, and it then attacked Mr Dransfield's store, which was soon gutted. The Lyttelton Times agency office was next destroyed, and although large quantities of spirits were known to be stored in Dalgety's bond, in dangerous proximity, no effort was made to remove them. The fire then communicated with the store belonging to Mr Reece, and the bond caught fire simultaneously. By this time the fire had extended down London street, seizing upon the shops of Messrs Hunter and Pitcaithley. House after house was destroyed, and the people seemed paralysed, as no combined efforts were made to stay the progress of the flames. In London street, the fire continued its course to the Bank of New Zealand, which soon succumbed. There was just time to remove the cash and books to the Bank of Australia, which was out of danger. The fire then seized the residences of Mrs Burt, Miss Wade, Mr Culliford, and Dr Rouse, and although an effort was made to arrest the further progress of the fire in this direction by pulling down the verandah of Mr Merson's house, it was without avail. A number of men, under the direction of Mr Webb, then pulled down a portion of Mr Fyfe's house, which seemed to check the fire on this side of the street. On the south side the fire continued its ravages. The stores of Messrs Bunker, Ayers, Ellisdon, and Lewis next fell a prey to the flames, and it soon became evident that the buildings in the rear would become ignited, from the quantity of sparks and flakes of fire which were carried by the wind on to the roofs. From this cause, the store of Messrs Taylor was set on fire from the roof, and shared in the general destruction.^^About 11 o'clock the Victoria Dining Rooms were burned to the ground, and the Canterbury Hotel was in flames. The fire engine was manned by volunteers, and played upon the store now occupied by Mr J. D. Macpherson, and the stores of Matheson's Agency, with good effect. The Post-office and the roof of the Custom House also caught fire, but it was soon extinguished by the hose being brought to bear upon it. The fire then extended to an empty store belonging to Mr. Hargreaves, on Norwich Quay, and to Dalgety's store, containing a large quantity of grain. In quick succession the stores of the Messrs Forbes, Rhodes, and Robinson were consumed, also Leslie's Hotel, the shops of Messrs Cameron and Parkinson, and as far as the Robin Hood Hotel. From Forbes' store the fire crossed to the telegraph office, which was gutted.^^Although the fire was temporarily checked, in the north side of London street by the pulling down of Mr Fyfe's shop, the flames continued to spread on the south side. Mr Percy's shop, Mr Mc Donald's, Mrs Arthur's, Mr Rossiter's, and the Railway Hotel were soon on fire, and the wind carried the flames round to Canterbury street. The fire ran down this street, gutting the shops of Messrs Wilcox, Young, Bayfield, and Heslop, and the heat was so intense that Mr Judge's on the opposite side, broke out in flames, which communicated to Mr Nalder's house and Mr Pratt's store. At one p.m., the time our reporter left, the flames were rapidly extending up the western end of London street. At this time, also, the steam fire-engine from Christchurch was being got into work in London street. The Mayor of Christchurch, Inspector Pender, Mr Harris, and a large number of the Christchurch Fire Brigades were present.^^The Colonists' Hall was thrown open for families who had been burnt out, and Captain Wheeler, of the s.s. Taranaki, also kindly threw his vessel open to the sufferers by the fire. Many private individuals, including Capt. Gibson, Mr Webb, and Dr Donald, exerted themselves manfully on this occasion, and the Lyttelton Volunteers also acted as sentries over the goods that were hastily removed to the reclaimed ground and other places.^^The whole of that block of buildings bounded by Oxford street, London street, Canterbury street, and Norwich Quay, is completely destroyed. On the north side of London street the buildings consumed comprise all from the Queen's Hotel to Mr Fyfe's store inclusive. Starting again from Woledge and Co.'s store in Canterbury street, all the buildings from there to Belgrave's Rising Sun Hotel in London street are burnt. On the south side of Norwich Quay the post-office, telegraph office, Messrs Heywood and Co.'s store, and other buildings, are either totally destroyed or greatly damaged.^^A large quantity of provisions were sent through to Lyttelton from Christchurch at 7.30 this morning, the whole of the butchers' and bakers' shops having been destroyed, with the exception of one of the latter. Out of thirteen houses licensed for the sale of liquors, eight have been completely destroyed.