LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Press, Volume XI, Issue 1374, 3 April 1867, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[By Submarine Telegraph.] "Wellington, April 2, 6.55 p.m. In addition to the Patent-slip dispute, Kennard Brothers threaten the Provincial Government with an action, laying the damages at more than £'7000 for alleged misdeecription of sea bottom of wharf extension just completed. Government has sent a retaining fee to the Attorney-General in both suits. Still no tidings of Mataura. As there was a hitch with her machinery when she started from Wellington, the date of her reaching Panama is uncertain.

Dunedtx, April 2, 3.45 p.m. An extensive conflagration occurred hist night, which is considered to bo the most terrible ever known in the city. It broko out in tlio shop of Mr Wilson, ironmonger, Princess street, and consumed the entire block from the Octagon to Moray-place. The fire was discovered shortly before eleven o'clock, and in a few minutes it got a fair hold. It first took the westerly side of tho street and buildings at "the rear, and then crossed the street and swept oft* the easterly side of Princes street. The premises destroyed are those of Wilson, ironmonger ; Harding, Octagon hotel ; Jago and Co., Octagon timber yards ; Law, Somner and Co., seedsmen ; McNeil Simpson, butcher ; A. and T. Burt, plumbers. The premises gutted were those of G-arrett and Co., coach factory ; Herbert, Haynes and Co., drapers ; Patterson and McLeod, grocers ; De Maus, photographer ; E. West, music warehouse ; Sontgon and Carr, tailors ; James Eeid, chemist ; J. Bierck, fancy warehouse ; Johnatone, plumber ; C. Begg, music warehouse ; a boarding-house, tenant unknown; the Criterion hotel, and the Theatre Royal; Hamilton and Watson, furniture warehouse ; Scanlan Brothers, painters; W. G-rigg and Co., coftee and spieo merchants ; Schnack and Co., hairdressers ; Sinclair, tailor; J. E. Crawford, surgeon; and Tofield, watchmaker. Tho destruction of household property is immense ; not one-quarter covered by insurance. Losses roughly estimated at between £30,000 and £90,000. At one time it was greatly feared the fire would cross Morayplace ; in that case it would have reached the heart of the city. As usual the water supply was very deficient. The insurance offices suffer about £20,000. Liverpool and London, £4100; Eoyal, £6000; Victorian, £lS00 ; North British, £1000 ; Now Zealand about £3000. The following telegram i 3 of a later date, and was received after the above was iv type : — Dunedin - , April 2, 6 p.m. A fire broke out last night about eleven o'clock in Princes street. The block of buildings from the Octagon to Moray-place, including Criterion and Octagon hotels, the Theatre Royal, Jago's timber yard, Paterson and McLeod's grocery, Herbert, Haynes and Co.'s drapery, and E. E. West's music warehouse, was burnt. The fire then crossed the street, and destroyed a row of buildings, comprising eight shops. The estimated damage is nearly £40,000. Insurances, £22,000.