DREADFUL FIRE AT LYTTELTON. TWO-THIRDS OF THE TOWN BURNT DOWN. DAMAGES OVER £100,000. Christchuruch, October 25.

A mo.st disastrous fire occurred in Lyttelton last night, raging for upwards of four houra. The entire block of buildings bounded by London-street, Oxford-street, Canterburystreet, and Norwich Quay, was destroyed. Two-thirds of the town has been laid in ruins, and a large number of families are rendered houseless. The Chvistchurcb. steam lire-engine was conveyed to Lyttelton by special train, and greatly assisted to atop tne fire. All the butchers' and bakers' shops are destroyed, and food had to bo sent from Christchurch this morning. The estimated loss is £100,000. The cause of the fire is unknown. — 4.8 p.m. : The fire was first discovered in an empty house adjoining the Queen's Hotel, then crossed to the other side of London-street j thus both sides of London-street were in flames from the corner of London -and Oxfordstreets, swept down Oxford- street, destroying the stores of Messrs. Diansfield and Hawkins, the Time Office, Canterbury Hotel, and thence continued to rage along Newcastle Quay, destroying Dalgethy's bond and warehouse, which were filled with wheat and spnits. All the intermediate &hop 3 to Leslie's Saxon Hotel fell 'one by one. The fire caught rear of .several private houses, which were all destroyed. In a few minutes the stores of Cameron Brothers, Taylor and Co., and the Robin Hood Hotel, caught, thus completing a circuit of the block. In London-street the fire was also progressing, destroying private and public buildings. Clniateliiuch Fire Brigade arrived by special tram at one o'clock, when Lyttelton appeared one mass of fire. The Brigade's efforts were directed to save the Mitre Hotel, and succeeded in stopping its progress, which otherwise would have taken the whole block eastward. Meantime, a large stoic on the seaward faide of Norwich Quay caught fire, and was soon one mass of flames. Two-thirds of the town of Lyttelton is absolutely cleaned of buildings, compiisiug an area of four or five acres. The whole of Christchurch is empty to-day ; all gone to Lyttelton ; subscriptions are being raised ; food forwar-ded to port. The following is a list of buildings destroyed ; London-street— Queen's Hotel ; Mr. Cathro, bootmaker; Mr. Hunter, grocer; Mr. Webb, gieengrocer ; Mr. Fisher, dwell-ing-house ; Mis. Burt, stationer; Miss Wade, confectioner ; Mr. Culliford, butcher ; Dr. Ko. se, dwelling-house ; Mr. T. Merson, stoiekeeper ; Shades Hotel; Mr. Pitcaithley, butcher; Bank of New Zealand; Mr. Bunker, storekeeper ; Mr. Ay6rs, hairdresser ; Mr. ElH«don, druggist; Mr. Walker, bootmaker; Mr. George Lewis, storekeeper ; Mr. Percy, bootmaker ; Mr. McDonald, tailor ; Mrs. Arthur, gieengroeer ; Mra. Spairey, greengrocer ; Mr. Kassiter, watchmaker ; Railway Hotel. Oxf old-street — Mr. Dransnold's store, Lyttelton Times office. Mr. E. Heece'a store, and the Victoria Dining .Rooms. Norwich Quay— Canterbury Ho.e l, Mr. Forbes's store. The Post-office and the Telegraphoffice were gutted. Ilargreavo's store was gutted ; Hey wood's store, Kobinson's, Leslie's Hotel ; Parkinson, butcher ; Mrs. lvolnnson, confectioner , Cameron Brother.-,, drapeia ; Heron, btoiekeeper ; and liobin Hood Hotel.