New Zealand Provinces.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XV, Issue 15, 21 May 1856, Page 2

New Zealand Provinces.

WELLINGTON.

[From the New Zealand Spectator, April. 90.]

On Sunday morning a fire broke out in the buildings and stores at the head of the Bay adjoining the Custom House, wliich, we regret to say, has occasioned the entire destruction of the block of buildings in which it occurred. The fire was first observed about half-past three o'clock in the morning, when flames

were seen to isßue through the roof of the buildingt near the sea, in the direction of Mr. Telford's store. An alarm was quickly given, and among the firßt on the ground were Mr. Raymond, the Manager of the Union Bank, Mr. Hunter, and others living in the neighLourhood, who were soon joined by Messrs. Rhodes, Woodward, Bowler, Moore, Laing, Lyon, and others ; the engines belonging to the Ordnance Department were speedily put in requisition ; and all the men of the 65th regiment not on guard were mustered on the spot, under the command of Captain Blewett, Lieutenant Strange, adjutant of the regiment, and Lieutenant Lewis, and whose exertions in extinguishing the fire and preventing it from extending to the adjoining property were above all praise. ColM'Cleverty and Brigade Major Coote were both on the ground, and rendered every possible assistance. Some delay occurred at first in getting the engines ready, and in organizing the several parties so as to act in the most efficient manner, and there was a want of a sufficient number of buckets, but this was soon remedied, and lines were formed along which the bucketa were passed from hand to hand from the sea to the burning buildings, while the engines were got into working order and brought to play most effectively on the fire by Mr. Hamley, of the Ordnance, who throughout exerted himself most indefatigably and exposed himself to considerable risk in his efforts to extinguish the fire. The flames rapidly spread towards Mr. Hervey's stores, which were soon involved in the conflagration ; and at one time the CustomHouse, which is on the opposite side of the street, was in flames, and if the fire had extended in this direction the loss would have been very much more serious ' t but this was fortunately prevented by Mr. Carkeek, the Collector, who mounted the roof, and with the assistance of Skey, the boatman, and others, got the flames under, and by a plentiful supply of water passed in buckets from hand to hand the flames were kept under and confined to the front part of the building, while Mr. W. Newman (Mr. Lyon's assistant) and others were actively employed in preventing the spread of the fire to Mr. Flyger's store next the Custom House, which was at one time in imminent danger. All the books and papers of the Custom House were saved by Mr. Carkeek, with the active assistance of a aerjeant of the 65th regiment. About five o'clock the fire was at its height, the flames shooting up in one tall column into the oky, and seeming to mock the efforts of those who endeavoured to arrest their progress. The morning was most providentially very calm, not a breach of air stirring ; most providentially also, a high brick wall, forming the south side of Messrs. Hervey's stores (formerly the Ordnance stores), which had stood through two earthquakes, prevented the flames from spreading in this direction. By dint of great exertion the flames were at length got under, and by eight o'clock all further apprehension of danger ceased, but the engines continued to play on the smoking ruins till eleven o'clock. In. the evening they were again set to work to guard against the possibility of danger from smouldering embers. The block of buildings destroyed consisted of the Post Office, and the Stores of Messrs. Crawford, Telford, Duncan, and Hervey, Smith and Co., forming a compact block, extending from the head of the bay to Mr. Loxley's store, and bounded on the east by Farish street, on the opposite side of which were the Custom House and Mr. Flyger's stores. The property destroyed has been estimated at from £20,000 to £25,000, none of which, we regret to say, was insured. It is impossible for us to praise too highly tho exertions of those, both soldiers and civilians, engaged in extinguishing the fire. On this, as on every other previous occasion where his assistance has been wanted, Colonel M'Cleverty baa been foremost in his efforts to serve the settlers. The officers, non-com-missioned officers, and men of the 65th have also showed, by the way in which they exerted themselves, the real sympathy and good feeling which exists between them and the settlers, an acknowledgment of which on the part of the latter has been made at a public meeting on Monday, the resolutions passed at which will be found in another column ; nor in addition to the names we have mentioned must we omit those of Mr. Withers, the quarter-master, Sergeantmajor Alexander, and other non-commissioned officers who were most active in their exertions. Among the civilians, Mr. Laing was exceedingly active, and, in addition to those previously mentioned, we should add the Rev. Mr. Buller, who assisted in forming the lines for passing buckets; Mr. W. W. Taylor, Messrs. Barry and Valentine, Mr. J. Nicholls, the messenger of the Union Bank, who was one of the first on the ground, Mr. Rawlings, a recent settler, who greatly exerted himself, Mr. Alfred Hickson (Mr. Hickson's eldest son), who showed an intrepid spirit beyond his years, and Mr. Alexander, the daguerreotype artist, who, ihough only a temporary sojourner amongst us, was not only amongst the foremoat in his exertions, but was most useful in his practical suggestions for rendering the means at command most available.

Besides tho3e we have named as the owners of the stores that have been destroyed, and on whom the burden of the loss chiefly falls, we understand there are others who had goods stored either in Messrs. Hervey, Smith and Co.'s warehouses or bonded stores, and who will suffer considerably ; among them, Mr. Rowlands to about £700, and, we believe, Messrs. Byng, Joseph, and Kelham. The origin of the fire has not yet been correctly ascertained.