ABSTRACT

WHILE young Northwood was away on his cruise to Temate, certain significant events had occurred. Firstly, a serious fire had taken place in the buildings at Battery Road. A pan of Scorcher’s Patent Metal had boiled over, and running along the floor had set the spirits ablaze. At one time it looked as if the whole of the buildings and their contents would be destroyed, but the fire brigade had managed to save the offices and the godowns in which the sago-flour was stored. The whole front of the building, the spirit-stores, and the godowns reserved for gums and spices were all in blackened ruins.