NEW PLYMOUTH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 171, 15 April 1854, Page 8

NEW PLYMOUTH.

A number of accidental but disastrous fires have occurred during the past week, occasioning very considerable loss to many settlers. The clearings of Messrs. Broadmore, Lethbridge and others on the Carrington rood, were on fire, and seriously endangered the houses and stacks in the neighbourhood, the fire travelling from log to log, and from stump to stump of the old clearings. The exertions of the neighbourhood happily proved sufficient to stay the mischief in this'quarter, after days of labour, and a considerable destruction of fencing. On the Paritutu road, and in the Omata district, theconsequences were still more calamitous. Several houses were entirely destroyed, with the greater part of the property they contained, the loss in some instances extending to a large proportion, and in others to the entire of the property of the occupiers. Besides these extensive losses a very large amount of fencing and grass have been destroyed. No blame, as far as we can understand, attaches to any person, and the whole must be loooked on as an untoward calamity, in which neither negligence nor want of energy can be charged upon the parties where the fires originated, or on those -who suffered subsequently. A stiff south-easter, which lasted the greater part of three days, set at defiance every effort made to arrest 'the progress of the mischief during its continuance. The question remains how the losses incurred by these calamities are to be met. The idea of providing for them by private subscription lists, is not, looking at our thinly populated districts, to be thought of; and yet it is certain that some provision will be necessary in many cases. If otherwise unobjectionable, the collection of private benevolence, is tardy, and has the evil of throwing on a few individuals the whole burthen. Any suggestion, however, of a contrivance by the authorities of the Province to meet the difficulty might be impertinent, as it is more than probable that some method by which an amelioration of the situation of the unfortunate parties will be effected, is already under consideration. — Taranaki Herald. AUCKLAND. The first session of the Auckland Provincial Council terminated on the ]6th February, when His Honor the Superintendent prorogued the Council with the following address: — Mr. Speaker ani> Gentlemen of the Provincial Council, —The business of a protracted Session having now been brought to a close, I am glad to be enabled to relieve you from the arduous and important duties which have so constantly occupied you "since its commencement. The fact that the whole machinery of Government for the Province required to be constructed, and the various wants, which the remarkable progress of this district has created, enquired into and provided for, will account at once for the length of the proceedings, and indicate the amount of labour which developed upon you, and which has been so patiently, carefully, and, as I believe, efficiently performed. On future occasions, I trust that the same sacrifice of valuable time will not be demanded, and that those gentlemen who come from a distance will not necessarily be detained from their homes and occupations for so long a period. I have to thank you for the liberal provision made for the immediate department of the Superintendent, as well as for the other branches of the Provincial service, and hope that the efficiency of the whole will merit the confidence of the Public. Measures are being taken to initiate the different Public Works for which funds have been voted. In the harbour of .Vlanukau buoys are being placed in those positions which Commander Drury has pointed out. A flagstaff and semaphore will be shortly erected on Paratutai, and a pilot station formed at that place. These measures, it is hoped, together with the authorized publication of the Chart recently made of the harbour, will tend to remove the impressions which have existed to its prejudice, and by thus placing Auckland in the position of having an available port on its westtern as well as its eastern shore, connected—as I hope shortly to see them —by a good road, will set forth its unrivalled maritime advantages, and make manifest the wisdom and skill displayed by its founder —the first esteemed Governor of the Colony —in the selection of its site.

The works on the Great South Uoad and its branches will receive early attention.: the high rate of wages, and the great difficulty of obtaining labour, may possibly fur this season .prevent the public expectations being fulfilled if the settlors, and those immediately interested do not themselves come to the aid of the Government. But every effort will be made at least to open up the country by means of bridge's and causeways, if, from the causes I have mentioned, the regular formation of the roads should be for the present found impracticable. I have assented with pleasure, on behalf of the Governor, to the Dock and Harbour Bill, as well as to the City Council Bill. Great powers of usefulness exist in both the corporations which these Acts have created ; and, as the money grants which you have made to them are liberal, the people will have a right to expect prompt and energetic action. It is to be hoped that both will prove exceptions to a rule which experience has too generally established in these colonies, that bodies of this description are not the most efficient conductors of public works. I shall transmit to the Haibour Committee the Report of the Board appointed by me to enquire into several points connected with the erection of the proposed Steam Wharf, and shall inform them that the money, in such portions as may be necessary, will be immediately placed at their disposal. 1 think that accommodation of the kind contemplated, by which despatch will be ensured and expense avoided, will be more generally beneficial, and have greater effect in encouraging Steam Communication with this harbour, than any annual subsidy which the financial condition of the Province would enable it to offer. The public spirit of the citizens, aided by a grant from the Provincial funds, has furnished the means of purchasing, for the use of the City, several fire engines, and thus provided a part of the means requisite for preventing disasters by fire, which are imminent in a city like this, in which the greater part of the houses are constructed of wood. To provide an available supply of water in different parts of the city, for the service of the engines and for the use of the inhabitants, is an object worthy, I think, of the earliest attention of the city council, and it will be the duty of the Executive Government to afford every possible aid in accomplishing it. The important Reports of the Committees on Immigration and Public Trusts have been transmitted to me. I will give the matters treated of my best attention, and endeavour so to arrange them as that the greatest amount of public benefit may be secured. Before the next session of this Council the General Legislature will have assembled, and the power and authority of the several Provincial Governments will have been defined and established. 1 shall take care that the opinions of this council, as expressed in the resolutions adopted by the House on the 2nd February, shall be communicated to the proper authorities, and brought under the notice of the Assembly when the subjects to which they refer are being considered. I propose, unless an unforseen necessity shall arise, not again to call you together before the month of October, that being the most convenient time for the arrangement of the public business, and also, as I think, the period when the country gentlemen can most easily spare the time which attendance upon the duties of the Council occupies. I now declare this Council to stand prorogued. R. H. Wynyakd, Superintendent. Auckland, 16th February, 1854. NELSON. Arrival of the " Nelson " Steameb.-—We have at length the satisfaction of welcoming in New Zealand a steam vessel built and sent out expressly for opening steam navigation on our oast. The "Nelson," for so the vessel has been named, after this port, left the Thames on the 17th of November, and arrived here on Sunday last, making the passage in 102 days under canvass. Considering the small amount of sail which the vessel was able to carry, the passage was a quick one, and proves, what we should be led to expect from her appearance, that she is a fast sailing vessel. The fittings up on board appear to be most complete, ana in every way we should imagine the " iSelson

to be particularly well adapted for the work intended for her. After discharging her cargo, ami fixing her screw, she is advertised to make the rouiufof the settlements, and we shall be oreatly disappointed if the Government and the people of the colony suffer such a vessel to leave us for the want of the necessary encouragement. — Nelson Examiner. Ar,AHMisG Fires. —Never since the formation of the settlement have been witnessed in the neighbourhood of the town such terrible bush fires as raged on Wednesday and Thursday last, and which placed in the most imminent peril the houses of several persons who reside at the foot of ihe hills on the outskirts of the town. The fire is believed to have originated on Wednesday morning, near the north end of the range of hills which separates the Waimea Road from Brook-street, but we cannot learn whether it was caused by an accident, or wilfully with the intention of clearing the land. During the early part of the day the fire excited no particular apprehension, as the wind drove it up the hills and into one of the valleys which run into Brook-street, but when the wind changed towards evening,'and the flames drove back again towards the town, the residents along the skirt of the hills began to get alarmed. The long period of dry weather we have experienced caused the rank growth of fern and shrubs whiohwibound'On* the hills, to burn with great fiuyvand every now and then, on the fire reachiifg'someguily where the growth was more than usually luxuriant, the fury of the flames was truly terrible. Fortunately, the fire did not approach so as to endanger any houses that night, but a vigilant watch had to be kept,.for no one could say how soon the danger might arise. Early on Thursday morning, the wind increased, and continued to blow fresh, and, as it came down the valleys in strong puffs, it kindled up the fires, and threatened with destruction all the houses from Mr, M'Donald's, in Brook-street, to the late residence of Mr. M'Vigars, at the top of Trafalgar-street. A strong party of men now commenced cutting a line about thirty feet wide along the hill-side, about 200 yards above the houses, hoping by this means to stay the advance of the flames, but they drove with such fury as to render this attempt to stay their progress unavailing. As there was a thick shrubbery immediately at the back of the residences of Mr. Stephens and Mr..Fell, it now seemed that both were doomed to destruction. That of Mr. Stephens was the first threatened, and accordingly the house was stripped of all its contents, which were removed to an open space in the front. By covering the roof with wet blankets, and by judiciously firing the bush immediately at the back of the cottage before the main body of fire could come down upon it, the buildings were fortunately saved, but it required the greatest vigilance and no small amount of exertion to prevent the fire from- spreading along the ground on the flank through the long grass. As soon as Mr. Stephens's premises were safe, attention was directed to Sunnyside, the tasteful residence erecting by Mr." Fell. As this building was slated, and as no quantity of bush was growing near it, the danger it stood in was not so great. The fires now began rapidly to approach Mr. Fell's present residence, in Brook-street, and it was thought necessary to remove everything out of the building. * By adopting the plan of covering the house with wet blankets, and by clearing and burning the busii at the back, this building was also saved. Every one who witnessed the efforts that were voluntarily rendered to stay these fires and | protect property, must have been highly grati- | fied. Where so many were present,.and all ex- ; i erting themselves to the best of their abilities, "" it would be invidious to mention particular names. But for the aid which was rendered, ~ not only would the residences we have named I bcui destroyed, but several others. 1 T!ie damage done has chiefly been to fencing j find to plantations. Mr. M'Donald is in this - le^pect a very heavy sufferer, as the hill-side ~\ ;il)()ve his house wasthickly planted with fruit | tiees. Mr. Fell is also a sufferer i;i a similar i] *llilll »er ; and in the garden which belonged to 5j »!<.' late Mr. M'Vigar, a considerable number iJ ° ll' ees' we fear, have been injured. The de*at at effect of tlie Hre is m°st seen, however, lt Mr. Stephens', where the shrubbery, which ] y*. ye tastefully laid out, contained'a great H <lllety of foreign plants, and the spot itself % the most beautiful in Nelson. A •it!"' i•' '"ata"it. v witn respect to fires seems to « < iiach itself m this gentleman, for this is the

seventh time lie has been a sufferer from this dangerous element since he has been in New Zealand. Three times luib his house been burnt down at Riwaka (the last, an elegant and well furnished building); twice has his station in the Wakefield Downs been more or less destroyed; once his cottage at Sondy Bay, and the fire of the present week makes the seventh—and four of these have been within twelve months. After the more immediate danger was supposed to be over, there were two very narrow escapes. A burning flake alighted in the middle of the furniture which had been removed from Mr. Stephens' house, and ignited some linen, but it was fortunately observed before the fire had got any strength". The other was a most singular accident. Sunnyside, the new residence building by Mr. Fell, is not yet glazed, and the apertures for the windows are at present nailed up with palings, and through these, it is supposed, a flake '-of fire must have been driven by the'wind, for a piece of calico was found by. Mr. Fell, who accidentally went into the house, lying burning on the floor. At the same time that this fire was raging, there were large conflagrations in other parts of the country. In the Maitai, and along the Wakapuaka hills, there was a very large fire, and the hills from Stoke to Richmond were, lighted up at the same time. Fencing, we believe, has been destroyed in several places, and where the fire reached the woods it must have caused the destruction of some serviceable timber. Tn the instances where these fires may have arisen from accident, little can be said, except to caution persons against carelessly exposing so much property to destruction ; but where they have been ignited intentionally, with the most perfect indifference to consequences, it is a great pity that the offender cannot be brought to justice, and an example made of him. Ibid.