About five minutes past twelve on Thursday night Mr Whitelaw, employed in the "Press" Office, was crossing Cashei street bridge when he heard an alarm of fire. Ie was given by Mr Strong, the Librarian at the Public Library. Mr Whitelaw immediately went to the place, and arriving there found that the house occupied by Mr Strong, which stands back from the street, was on fire. The house was then burning, as far as Mr Whitelaw could see, in the back pare, nearest the Library. On his getting there Mrs Strom? had the baby at the window on the ground floor, and after considerable difficulty he prevailed upon her to Ut him take the shild out, and also to comFout hers»lf, At this time the 6re had got good hold of the house. The alarm was given and the Brigade and the police under Mr Inspector. Broham, were very early on the spot. Altogether seven children were got out speedily, several of them jumping from the window into the arms of the policemen. As the fire gained strength a terrible suspicion came across Mr Strong that all the children had not been rescued, and that one of them, sleeping in the southern bide of the house, was Btill in the room. Those on the ground hoped against hope for some little time, and the Fire Brigade men worked like Trojans in their endeavors to get at the place where the child was supposed to be. Mr Superintendent Turton ordered the water to be put on the whole building, con entrating the whole force of the brigade on it. The house, which was a very old one, burnt very fiercely, so much so that it was exceed ingly difficult to get nea»* to it, and one of the brigade was overcome by the smoke and heat and hsd to be assisted out. So soon as it was practicable the Fire Brigade men got into the upper storey, a work of the greatest possible difficulty, as there was still a very great body of fire under neath and the smoke was very dense. A search was then made along the upper floor, which was divided into two rooms, the one in which the lad who was supposed to haTa been left behind slept, being on the southern side. 