DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. EIGHTEEN HOUSES DESTROYED.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 100, 14 August 1866, Page 8

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. EIGHTEEN HOUSES DESTROYED.

On Tuesday morning, August 7, at about half-past three o'clock, a fire broke out in the Nelson Hotel, kept by Mr. C. M'Gee, at the South-west angle of Bridge and Col-liagwood-streeta. From the absence of any organized body to deal with fires, and through there being no adequate supply of water at hand to supply the two fire-engines possessed by us, not only was the^ building consumed m which the fire originated— a newly-built and roomy hotel— but the fire extended down Bridge-street, against the direction of the wind, destroying the four adjoining houses, consisting of Porthouse's Eoyal Hotel ; the premises of Mr. Laney, baker ; those of Mr. M'Artney, tinsmith ; and the residence of Mrs. M'Artney. Here the progress of the fire was stayed by Almastreet — a narrow private Btreet which runs from Bridge-street up to Hardy-street. But long before the flames had spread so far down Bridge-street — in fact, before they had reached the adjoining hotel — they had been carried by a strong wind across Colling-wood-Btreet, seventy-two feet in width, to the roof of Mr. CondelFs store, at the south-east angle of the two Btreets named ; and this building and the premises of Mr. Fish, draper, and Mr. Avery, bootmaker, southward in Collingwood-street, and those of Mrs. Townsend, lodging-house, and Mr. Barnes, china and earthenware dealer, eastward in Bridge-street, quickly increased the burning mass, giving the inmates only just time to remove portions of their furniture. The body of flame had now become so great, and the means of staying them so inadequate, that it was not long before they crossed Bridge-street — another wide street — to the roof of the Temperance Hall, at the north-east angle of the intersecting streets, and this building, the adjoining one on the eastern side (the place of meeting of the Young Men's Christian Association), and two cottages above, occupied by Mr. Beattie, and Mr. Barraclough, completed the list of disasters in that direction. There now remained standing only one corner building of the four, the Mitre Hotel, kept by Mr. Owens, at the north-west angle of Bridge and Col-lingwood-streets. This building had only lately been erected and, having a slated roof, hopes were entertained that it would be saved, but the flakes of fire were brought across Bridge-street in such masses from the Royal Hotel and adjacent buildings that, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts made on its behalf, it ultimately fell a prey, and with it other buildings westward of it in Bridge-street— those of Mr. Pratt, butcher, and the residences of Mr. M'Artney, and Mr. Leech, wheelwright. . From our description of this fire, it will be seen that it destroyed the buildings at the four corners of Bridge-street and Col-lingwood-street, and all those immediately adjacent ; in all eighteen houses. The further progress of the flames was stopped in several instances only with the greatest possible difficulty, and many acts of unflinching courage and perseverance are recorded of persons who, placing themselves on neighbouring houses, gallantly kept their positions and poured water on the roofs, under most trying circumstances. But for the gallantry thus displayed, the fire would have spread far beyond the limits to which it was fortunately confined. The chemist's shop and residence of Mr. Tatton, on the south side of Bridge-street (in the line of buildings in which the fire broke out, but separated by AlmaBtreet), had a very narrow escape. At one time it was thought that it would be impossible to save this latter building from destruction ; nor could it have escaped but for the coolness and pluck displayed by several persons, who, climbing up to the roof of the house, kept it drenched with water, which was handed up to them in buckets from below. Whenever an ignited particle fell on the shingles, it was at once extinguished, and not until the studs of the adjacent house, occupied by Mrs. M'Artney, had been cut through, and the burning mass had been made to fall away from Mr. Tatton's premises, did they leave their post. Mr. Wigzell, Mr. Josephs, and several others, were engaged at this work. On the roof of Mr. Touet's premises, adjacent to the Temperance Hall, in Collingwood-street, similar useful measures were adopted. Two or three times the roof of Mr. Touet's house caught fire, but was extinguished by Mr. Conway, assisted by Mr. Phillips and Mr. Friend. The heat and smoke in their position must have been more trying than in other parts ; the building which they were working to save was in the direction of the wind, and the fragments of burning wood, sparks, and volumes of smoke, which the gale hurried in masses round them, rendered their position a most dangerous one. The result was, however, that, whikt the Temperance Hall was soon a mass of ashes, Mr. Touet's house, with only a small space of intervening unoccupied ground between the two, escaped. The force of the wind, and the distance to which it carried 'the blazing pieces of wood, may be imagined, when we say that the inmates of houses situated on the other aide of the Maitai, in the Wood, were obliged to keep their roofs flooded in order to prevent them from taking fire. The rapidity with which the tire spread after it was first discovered was most truly frightful. From the time the alarm was given fully half an hour elapsed before the engines were on the ground, although both are kept within a distance of 500 yards ; and when got to work, one only could play on the burning mass, as the larger engine of the two had to be placed over the drain in Trafalgar-street, in order to supply the lesser one with water. It occupied less than three hours to reduce eighteen buildings (several of which were no mean erections), to asheß, leaving nothing standing but some thirty stacks of chimneys. The origin of this disastrous fire will probably never be ascertained. At the inquiry, the evidence, as will be seen, was of rather a conflicting nature, but we are glad the jury were able to come to the conclusion, that its origin was accidental.

The following is a list of the houses burnt, but others were more or less injured, and several small buildings were pulled down : — Mr. M'Gee, Nelson Hotel, newly erected, Bridgestreet, south side ; corner of Collingwood-Btreet, west side: Mr. Porthouse, Koyal Hotel, Bridge-street, south side: Mr. Laney, baker, Bridge-street, south side : Mr. M'Artney, tinsmith, Bridge-street, south side : Mrs. M'Artney, dwelling-house, Bridge-street, south side : Mr. Condell, storekeeper, Bridge-street, south side j corner of Collingwood-street, east side : Mrs. Townsend, boarding-house, Bridge-street, south side : Mr. Barnes, china shop, Bridge-street, south side : Temperance Hall, Bridge-street, north side ; corner of Collingwood-Btreet, east side : Hall of Young Men's Christian Association, Bridgestreet, north Bide : Mr. Beattie, dwelling house, Bridge-street, north side : Mr. Borraclouga, dwelling house, Bridge-street, north side : Mr. Owens, Mitre Hotel, Bridge-street, north side ; corner of Collingwood-street, west side : Mr. M'Artney, dwelling house, Bridge-street, north side: Mr. Pratt, butcher's shop, Bridge-street, north side: Mr. Leach, wheelwright, Bridge-street, north side : Mr. Fish, draper's establishment, Collingwoodstreet, east side, south of Bridge-street : Mr. Avery, boot shop, Collingwood-street, west side, south of Bridge-street. Year after year we have endeavoured to impress upon the citizens of Nelson the ruin which impended over them, if they persisted in neglecting those means which are adopted in all civilized communities to suppress fires ; and although warned again and again of the hollowness of their security — that because no fire had ever occurred in Nelson beyond the destruction of a small isolated building, no wide-spreading conflagration was to be apprehended — no combined action to form a fire brigade here has ever yet succeeded. Two years ago, when a detached cottage was burnt down, the agents of the Insurance Offices and a few others were stimulated into' an amount of activity sufficient to discuss a measure for organizing a fire-brigade, which was laid before them, but the subject was not pursued, and in a little time all interest in it was lost, and the scheme abandoned. The burning of a dwelling house or two, at intervals of two or three years, has evidently not proved sufficient to stimulate the people of Nelson to engage actively in organizing a fire police. Will the destruction of eighteen houses and other property, altogether of the value of upwards of £15,000, operate more powerfully ? We trust it will, and that it will not need a still more severe lesson to induce those 1 measures to be taken, which, had they been in force a week ago, would have saved many thousand pounds worth of property, and averted the ruin of some of the victims of the fire on Tuesday morning. Had the fire broken out in a corresponding position in Trafalgar-street, to M'G-ee's house in Collingwood-Btreet, the destruction of property that must have ensued is frightful to contemplate. As an order has gone to England for all the requisites for giving the city a direct water service, we hope the people of Nelson will do their part, and enlist a force which shall be capable, with the means at our command, of rendering such another scene as our city now presents, an impossibility. The best supply of water possible, unless properly made use of, is no security against the spread of fire ; but an efficient body of men, properly directed, may do much to lessen danger which they cannot altogether avert. This fire affords a notable example of the old story, of " that which was everbody's busineas, being nobody's business." Although both our fire-engines were kept in the street in which the fire occurred, at distances from the scene not greater than from 300 to 400 yards, it took half an hour to get either of them on the spot, and when there, still further time was lost before the necessary hands were found ready to work them. There was also a delay in giving the alarm, from the rope of the fire-bell breaking when laid hold of; and we are informed that the bell could only be reached by climbing up one of the posts which supports it, and then ringing by seizing hold of the clapper. On inquiry, we learn that the only insurances which had been effected on the houses destroyed, are as follows : — In the Liverpool and London, and Globe Insurance Office : Mr. M'Gee, £1,200 ; the Temperance Hall, £400 ; Hooper and Company, on Royal Hotel, £500 ; J. Pratt, £125 ; R. Burn, on Mr. Beattie's residence, £150; total £2,375. In the New Zealand Insurance Office: Mr. Field, on Mitre Hotel, £600 ; Mr. M'Artney, £150 ; Mr. M'Gee, on Nelson Hotel, £500 ; Mr. Laney, dwelling house and shop, £250 ; total, £1,500. In the Victorian Insurance Company: Mr. Laney, house and shop, £200 ; Mr. Barnes, crockery shop, £200 ; total £400. In the Northern Insurance Office: Mr. Condell, £1,300; Mr. M'Artney, £400; Messrs. Hooper and Company, on Royal Hotel, £300 ; total, £2,000. Total insurances, £7,275. INQUEST ON THE FIRE. An inquest was held on Wednesday, •at the Court House, before W. W. Squires, Esq., on the cause of the late fire in Colling wood-and Bridge-streets. The jury was composed of the following gentlemen :—: — John Atkin, foreman, D. Eobertson, W. C. Wilkins, M. M. Webster, Joseph Webb, T. Snow, W. Milner, J. Phillips, T. W. Rentoul, T. Usher, M. Lightband, N. T. Lockhart, and J. Hornby. After the jury had inspected the scene of the fire, the following evidence was taken. Charles M'Gee, being sworn, said : I am an hotelkeeper residing in Nelson. I remember the morning of the 7th August. I think it was between three and four in the morning of that day, I heard, whilst in bed, a peculiar sound like a very heavy wind blowing. I called to Mrs. M'Gee and said What is that ? She said it sounds like fire. I got up instantly ; all was darkness. I lit the candle then and went into the children's room, and saw smoke coming out of a corner of the room opposite the window of the room which looks out into Collingwood-street. I called out "Fire" as hard as I could. Mrs. M'Gee came out instantly, and went down stairs with three of the children. I went into the nursery, and tried to get my cash-box, but the drawers were locked, and I could not get it. The black smoke then came in thicker, so that I could scarcely see, and I took the fourth child out ; and when I had the child in my arms, the blaze burst in over my head. I was then still at the same corner of the room. I ran down stairs directly into the kitchen ; all was quiet there ; there was no fire there nor any smoke. It was dark. I went out ut '

the back by the kitchen door, and when I got out to the right of this door, I saw a fire close into the angle of the door, and saw what appeared to me to be a heap of rubbish alight in the cornsr ; this rubbish was like shavings, and was burning. I saw the fire the whole way up this angle ai far as the childrens' bed-room, and the wind was blowing right into the angle. I saw the Blop pail laving in the yard. It had some water in it which I tlrew on the burning heap of Bhavings. I then ran round into Collingwood-street, calling out " Fire." When I got into Collingwood-etreet, I saw the fire through the windows of my own and the children's bed-room. I Baw no one in the street. The first person I saw was Mr. Munro, bookbinder, and Mr. Haughton. After that I saw lots of people coming. That is all I know about it. I gave the other child to Mrs. M'Gee after I got down stairs. By the Jury: It was usual -for my servants to clean out the fire-places in the morning, but not at night. The ash-pit is at a distance of about sixteen feet from the house, in a back-yard, or about twentytwo feet from the angle where I saw the fire. I use either EngUsli or New South Wales coals. There was no rubbish of any description in any part of the jard, neither near the house, nor away from it. There was no rubbish near the house on the previous night. I could not say whether the shavings might have been blown near the house or not. The ash-pit was not covered, and looked into Collingwood-Btreet. There were no shavings in the yard, as I had not commenced to make additions. I only used wood to light the fires in the morning, or at any time in the day. By the Coeoneb : Lodgers could pass out of the house at night if they chose. Ido not think that a cigar thrown over the iron fence could have come near. Anyone could have got over the fence trom Mr. Porthouse's yard. There was no light in the children's room. All lodgers were in bed by twelve o'clock. There were no people sleeping in the rooms looking into the yard. A nurse girl, named Gertrude Rough, Blept in a room off the children's room upstairs with one of the children. I always went round the house every night. I went round the house and yard on Monday night early, as we all went to bed early. I never smoke tobacco. I always went round in the dark. I always went into the passage on my lodgers going to bed, until the Jights were out. Bernard Condell, being sworn, said: I am a grocer living in Collingwood-street. I never sleep on a windy night. I was restless on the morning of the 7th. I got up, not being able to sleep, and went down stairs, and lay on the sofa, Between three and four in the morning I saw something like a flash of light. I pulled the blinds up, and looked out of the window, and saw a fire upstairs in one of Mr. M'Q-ee's rooms over the kitchen. The fire seemed small, and directly I noticed it I rushed into the street crying out " Fire." There was no one in the street at the time I went out. I could not see any one. 'I heard Mr. and Mrs. M'Gee crying " Five." After I had given the alarm, as the fire had increased a great deal, I ran into the house and got the children out. I then had just time to get my books out as the heat had become too strong, the flames being driven towards my house. I did not hear Mr. and Mrs. M'G-ee crying out till after I had seen the fire. I then saw Mr. M'G-ee and he asked me to lend him a pair of trowsers. There was no rubbißh or shavings in the yard, although there was new timber in the yard. I know of no buildings from which shavings could have been driven by the wind to Mr. M'Q-ee's house. I had looked out of the window several times but saw no light in Mr. M'G-ee' a till I saw the blaze. I did not see Mr. M'Q-ee until I brought my children out of the house. Alfred William Avery, being sworn, said : lam a watchmaker residing almost opposite to Mr. M'G-ee' s house. On the morning of the fire I was awake and heard the town clock strike three. I dozed off again for, I shoult think, a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. I got out of bed. I Baw a blaze in the top window of Mr. M'Qee's house, and saw the blind catch fire whilst I was looking at it. I said to Mrs Avory " Mr. M'Q-ee's house is on fire, it will be a case." I went out to the front door and then returned to put on my trowsers. Whilst finding my trowsers, I heard a cry of "Fire." By the time I could get out, I heard screams, and Mrs. M'Gee and family at my back door whilst I was dressing. I let them in, They were in their night dresses. I saw the fire at the last upper window of Mr. M'Gee's house in Collingwood-street, at the end of the house farthest from Bridge-street ; after that at the next window. I should have seen the fire had it first broken out near the farthest window but one. Edward Atmore, being sworn, said : I am a labourer, living in Collingwood-street. I live in the third house from Mr. M'Q-ee's, on the same side of the street. I was awake on the morning of the 7th instant. I heard some people screaming. I got out of bed directly, and saw the gable end of Mr. M'Qee's house, towards Collingwood-street, alight. I could not look into the corner of the yard to see if the house was on fire, by the back door. There was no appearance of fire inside the corner of the house. The place was not lighted up aB if on fire. It was the screaming which roused me up. Catherine M'Qee, being Bworn, said: I am the wife of Charles M'Qee, and I lived at the Nelson Hotel. On the morning of Tuesday, the 7th instant, I was awoke by mj husband, who said " What noise is that ?" I said "It is fire." He said " No ; the wind has changed to the front of the house." He lit the candle, and went into the next room to the children's, and said "Oh, it is fire.'* I got up directly, with the baby in my arms, and rushed into the room and pulled two of the children out of their cots. Just as I got them out of their beds, the fire was breaking out of the next room. The blaze was coming in from the next room. I went to the servants' rooms, and called out " Fire !" and told the girl to get the other baby out. The girl got up, and came down stairs. There was no light in the servant's room at the time I went in, but she told me that the flames rushed in almost immediately. There were no lodgers in rooms looking into the yard. I have been in the habit of visiting the children before Igo to bed. I did so on Monday night, about midnight. There was no light burning then. The kitchen is under both the children's and the servants' bedroom. Ido not know whether the kitchen fire was out when the servants went to bed, as I leave it to the servants to put it out. When I got out of the kitchen door, I saw the fire, as nearly as I can remember, above the passage door, which opens out out of the passage leading from the bar to the yard. I did not see any fire burning at the bottom of the door. I only saw it burning about the window. I did not see a spark of fire on the ground. I got down and out into the yard before Mr. M'Qee. The only fire I saw was above the passage door. I then took the children to Mr. Avery's. William Davis, being s worn, said : lam a special constable. I board at Trimble's, Masonic Hotel. I went on duty, with Constable Fitzgerald, at halfpast two o'clock on Tuesday morning. There were four of us. I got to the corner of M'Qee's as the clock struck three. We walked down Bridge-street, towards the Trafalgar Hotel, and I stood at the corner for about a quarter of an hour. I was looking up Bridge-street, in the direction of M'Qee's, when I saw a cloud of smoke coming round the corner. I was just going to pass the word to Fitzgerald, when we heard the cry of " Fire !" Fitzgerald ran to the lock-up. I saw some men, who were calling out of one of the upper windows. I ran and got a ladder, which was lying near the corner of M'Qee's house. I had seen it there before. I placed it against the window, and the men came down. Then I shifted the ladder round to Bridge-street, to two other windows, and some more men descended into the street. I then went up myself to see if there were any more men left, but I could not get in, the smoke being so thick. I first saw the fire at the far corner window, in Collingwood-street. A few minutes after, the whole houße was in a blaze. I did not enter the yard, as I drew the end of the ladder out from the corner, without going round. I saw no one about the streets before I observed the fire. I saw Mr. Condell running down the Btreet. When I went round the corner of the house for the ladder, I did not observe any appearance of fire on the ground. I only saw the blaze in the corner window. William Fitzgerald, being sworn, said: I am a constable, residing in Bridge-street. I was on duty with the last witness on Tuesday morning. In pas*

sing M'Gee's Hotel I Baw the flash of the fire coming out of M'Gee's hotel, at the farthest window in Col-lingwood-stveet. I blew my whistle, and ran up to the lock-up, and told Davis to rouse the men up in the hotel. On arriving at M'Gee's it was twentyfive minutes past three. Mr. CondelTwas the only person I Baw. Charles Knight, being sworn, said : I am a plasterer, residing in Bridge-street. I heard the cries of fire whilst in bed. I dressed myself, and went to where I saw the reflection of the fire. It was at Mr. M'Gee's. The first person I saw was Mr. Condell, and I advised him to take everything of value from his house, as I felt confident it would go. His remark was, that he had everything of value safe that he could move. I then went to the back to where I thought, from the reflection, the fire was. I saw the back door was fast, and tried to break it in. I tried with my shoulder, and, not succeeding, I burst it in with a rail. The door I broke open was at the back of the yard, and I broke open a window at the back. I can't be certain whether there was fire close to the door, but it was so hot that I burnt mj- bands in bursting the door open. I came up Bridge-street, and turned into Collingwood-street; went round to the back, and I did not see any flames at the front. The flames were bursting out at the corner diagonally, opposite to the bar entrance. It was bursting out of the eaves at the corner next to Porthouse's. I believe the fire originated there. Mr. M'Gee recalled, said : My wife went out first at the back door, before I had gone out. Thomas Haughton, being sworn, said : lam a porter, living in Collingwood-street. Mr. M'Gee called me up ou the morning of Tuesday, the 7th. I got up and saw fire at Mr. M'Gee's. I ran round to the back of the house. I saw a fire between the passage door and kitchen door. I did not stop to observe the fire, but rushed through the door — the passage door leading to the bar— and commenced taking the things out. There were Mr. Owens and others with me. I saw smoke and fire coming out of the upstairs window. The fire appeared to be two weatherboards up from the ground, and there was some fire on the ground. I cannot say whether it had fallen down or not. After having retired for a short time, the jury returned the following verdict : — " That the Nelson hotel was burnt between the hours of three and four in the morning of the 7th instant, and we believe that the fire arose accidentally." PUBLIC MEETING EESPECTING THE FIEE. On Tuesday evening, a public meeting was held at the Provincial Hall, Nelson, for the purpose of raising subscriptions to relieve the sufferers by the late fire. The body of the Hall was crowded. On the motion of Captain Bough, seconded by D. Sinclaie, Esq., his Honour the Superintendent occupied the chair. His Honoue said he was very happy indeed to find that, after the great exertions of the early morning, bo many of the inhabitants had responded to the call which had been made on them, and had attended the meeting that night for the purpose of taking into consideration the further relief of those who were suffering distress from the disaster of the morning. All, he was sure, would agree with him, that it was a legitimate object for the benevolence and generosity of the inhabitants of the town. In several instances they had been called upon to contribute for purposes which did not excite their local sympathy, but in the present case they would feel it their duty to assist, to the best of their" ability, those who have suffered in their midst. He was glad to learn that a large proportion of the sufferers were secured against their loss by the Insurance Offices, and, from the almost entire absence of any similar catastrophe in Nelson, he was confident that these offices could well afford to bear the loss [cheers]. He hoped that the habits of prudence thus shown would continue and increase,, but at the same time such a fire could not take place without inflicting a large amount of distress on a class of persons whose means and position rendered it impossible for them to secure themselves against loss. It was in order to endeavour to relieve these persons that they were there that night, and he felt confident that the appeal which had been made to them would not be in vain. As he had been done the honour of being requested to occupy the chair, it might not be amiss to make a few remarks relative to the sad occurrence which had taken place in the morning, and which was occupying the public attention. There were many during the fire who worked hard, and ran risks which endangered their lives, in order to save the property of their fellow-townspeople ; there were many who, from the daring bravery they had shown, deserved medals more than many who received medals for the Crimean war ; and he thought that a subscription might be well entered into, in order to present to i these brave men not a reward, but some distinguishing mark of the approbation of the inhabitants. The willingness which had been shown by most persons to assist in stopping the flames, was most praiseworthy ; but amongst those who witnessed the occurrence of the morning, there could be but one opinion as to the want of regulating power to direct the efforts of those hundreds of willing men to act together in a successful manner. He hoped that arrangements would be entered into that evening to insure, should a recurrence of such a disaster take place, a better organized state of thingß. That morning had proved that no one had the authority to pull down so much as an old shed to stop the progress of the flames. When Dr. Irvine had called on him during the fire, and told him of the occurrence, requesting him to give the necessary orders for pulling down houses, he • had assented roughly and readily. But his office did not authorize him to do so ; he had undertaken the responsibility in order to save the town, but he was not the Superintendent of the town of Nelson, and he had no funds in keeping belonging to the town. But, in a case like that, he felt that it was not one in which the town was likely to quarrel with the country, or the country with the town, and, under similar circumstances, he should feel that he was justified in acting in the same manner should the disaster occur at Eichmond, at Cobden, or at any other town within the boundaries of the province, and in doing so he believed that the Legislature would fully bear him out. There should, however, be some properly constituted authority, whose judgment in such case could be relied on, and without whose orders no such work should be commenced. He had noticed, on the morning subsequent to the fire, that, had many of the houses which the inhabitants wished to see pulled down not been left standing, the damage and loss would have been far greater. These houses were saved by the exertions of the brave men, who, regardless of smote and fire, stood on the roofs of the houses, and stopped the flames from igniting them. His Honour said that he could not sit down without mentioning what he was very sorry to say he had noticed during the fire : he was grieved to find that amongst them they had a few characters whom the rest of the town would be ashamed to own. During the time when most were actively employed to the best of their powers for the benefit of all, he had heard people refuse to work, saying that " they had no property in the place," or that they " did not live there." He hoped that they would soon see the backs of those persons who, in the face' of an occurrence like this, could make such remarks. Those men in some in- ! stances were not only useless, but by the disparaging remarks which they made on others who were -working ably and well, they tended in a measure to increase the difficulty and danger. He trusted that authority would be instituted over men like these, and, should such be again found in our streets on a future occasion, that they may know how to deal with them as they deserve. He would now call on Captain Eough, a gentleman who was always foremost in' deeds of benevolence, to address the meeting £app\auße]. Captain Bough said he assured the meeting that he had been taken entirely by surprise by being asked to address them. He had been told that a Bhort resolution would be placed in his hands, and he thought that he had nothing else to do ; with their leave, however, he would make a few short remarks on the objects of the meeting. There were, no doubt, many differences in political opinions amongst them, and perhaps it was best that it should ' be so, but he had always observed that, whatever |

| calamities occurred, a most remarkable unity existed in Nelson. He thought the event which they were now considering should be regarded entirely as a public calamity, and although they had mercifully been spared loss of life and property that they should not therefore refrain from contributing to the assistance of others, not as charity but as a duty. They should be ready to give and the sufferers should be ready to receive. Mr. Greenfield said that, like Captain Rough, he felt astonished at being called upon to address the meeting. He thought that every one, under the circumstances, would be willing to contribute their mite. He would therefore propose the following resolution : — " That this meeting is of opinion, that subscriptions should be at once entered into to relieve the sufferers by the late fire." This was unanimously adopted. Mr. Kingdom said that, with the assistance of some gentlemen, he had selected the names of the following gentlemen, who, he proposed, should act on a committee to carry out the views of the meeting, and open subscription lists in the town : — "Dr. Cusack, Eevs. Mr. Johnston and Davis, Messrs. Kingdon, Rough, Jackson, Greenfield, Lightband, H. D. Jackson, Lucas, Wilkie, Goulstone, M'Tavish, Dr. Irvine, Hyam Davis, Hadfield, Disher, Harley, Eout, David Burns, Eobertßurn, Atkin, Merrington, and Drew, with power to add to their number." The Eev. Mr. Davis seconded the resolution, and rose to suggest that some gentlemen might volunteer as collectors. He should be happy himself to devote two or three days' labour to the purpose. Carried. Mr. E. Buss proposed that Mr. H. C. Daniell should be appointed as treasurer to the funds. The resolution was seconded by Dr. levtne, and carried. On a motion of Captain Eotoh, subscription lists were placed on the table. Mr. Ceate said that he had seen similar fires, and similar subscriptions raised in other towns, and thought that opening a subscription list in that manner would enable people to evade subscribing when presented the -list afterwards, by stating that they had already subscribed at the meeting. Mr. Kingdon thought that difficulty could be obviated by the lists bearing the names of all those who had subscribed being taken round to persons. Captain Eough thought that there would be no attempt made thus to evade subscriptions in Nelson. A Voice : If we cannot subscribe we will say so at once. Mr. Deew said that only one portion of the subject had as yet been taken in consideration. His Honour the Superintendent had pointed out the necessity which existed for some organized system for the prevention of fires. Calamities of any description seldom came singly, and it might be possible that, before long, the town of Nelson might again be visited by a disaster similar in nature to the one the evil effects of which they had met to endeavour to mitigate, and that before long. On that morning, there was nothing like any order or proper organization ; it was even said that there were several lengths of hoße left untouched in the Engine-house [A Voice : I deny that] ; at all events he had been told that such was the case. However that might be, it was proved beyond doubt that there was a great want felt of some one who knew how to manage [A Voice : You were there with your hands in your pockets]. He had been there, and still felt the effects of the labour he had undergone whilst removing the pianoforte belonging to the Harmonic Society, from the Temperance Hall. He should not have mentioned the circumstance, bad not a remark just fallen from some one in the Hall. [Mr. Jackson here spoke in a low voice to Mr. Drew, amidst loud cries of " Order"]. After a good deal of interruption, Mr. Drew proposed the following Committee to take steps for the formation of a Fire Brigade in Nelson : — His Honour the Superintendent, Messrs. Merrington, Eichardson, Curtis, Fisher, Edwards, Eough, Sinclair, Davis, Wilkie, Irvine, Kingdon, Everett, M'Tavish, Greenfield, Bentley, Moore, Hodgson, Sharp, and Blackett. Mr. Mebbington said, with Mr. Drew's leave, he would suggest that this resolution remain over until the previous question of aiding the sufferers had been settled. He was afraid that the belief was getting abroad that most of the persons who had lost anything by fire were covered with an insurance. He believed that there were very few who would thus be relieved, and that a very large amount of distress would be occasioned through the accident. There were several servants who had been living in the hotels which had been destroyed who had lost everything they possessed, besides other persons who have suffered in a similar manner. He merely wished the meeting to believe that there were many who were deserving of their assistance, and that that assistance, in the form of funds, it was their duty to administer without delay. At his Honour's suggestion he would move, "That a shilling subscription be opened for the purpose of presenting those who distinguished themselves at the late fire with a medal;" and he thought that such a medal would prove an incentive to some persons to work on such occasions. Mr. Atkin said he had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. There were instances of bravery in connection with this fire which ought not to be allowed to pass by unnoticed. One which he was told he would relate. The cook at Mr. M'Gee's, Nelson Hotel, had lost her all, but she had saved the lives of four men. These men, who were sleeping upstairs with, their doors locked, could not be awoke at first, but, by dint of kicking the door, she at length aroused them, and, throwing her shawl over her head, she took one by the hand, and fairly led him through the smoke and fire until they reached a window, by which they escaped. It was no part of their duty to keep rich those who were rich, because they had lost a portion of their property, but in other cases where absolute poverty had been caused, it was their duty to assist. He could not refrain from mentioning the conspicuous bravery of Mr. Conway, who was mainly instrumental in saving Mr. Touet's house, in Collingwood-Btreet. He had ventured upon the roof, trusting to a flax-cord, and had remained there throughout the fire, wetting the roof, and eventually succeeded in saving the house. His Honoue remarked that it was not his intention to recommend that the shilling subscription should be raised in order to reward those who had distinguished themselves at the fire, or to induce such selfish persons as he had referred to before, but rather as a mark of honour for those who had earned such distinction. After a few explanatory words from Mr. Mebbington, the resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. Jackson was appointed Treasurer of the Testimonial Fund, on the motion of Dr. Cusack, seconded by Captain Eottgh. His Honour said there was one question on which he trusted the meeting would express an opinion — as to whether the committee' which had been appointed to raise subscriptions for the relief of the sufferers, should also take in hand the collection of the shilling subscription proposed. Mr. Sinclair thought that ifc would be an absurdity to elect another committee, as the one chosen would, as the natural result of their inquiries whilst fulfilling their duties, be more likely to discover who had really deserved the distinction proposed than others. He would move that the first committee undertake both duties. Dr. levine seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr. Mebbington rose and referred to the plan pursued by the Agents of Insurance Companies in other colonies. There they were generally the first to institute organized fire-brigades ; and he had spoken with the agents of the companies in Nelson, who had promised to write to their offices in Melbourne, and had expressed themselves willing to co-operate with the townspeople in the matter. His Honour the Supebintendbnt said there was another subject to which he wished to call attention, which was, the advisability of ringing all the bells in the town in the case of fire after the first bell had given the alarm. The Church-school and other bells should be rung, and, if this was done, all the inhabitants would be awakened, and many, who were willing to assist on such occasions, would be enabled to be prej sent. He could mention the names of .many whose I terrices would have been of the utmost value that

morning, who slept through the whole of the affair, and had known nothing of it until they had got up in the morning. Mr. Bubn proposed that Mr. Joseph Garrara, whose energy had been so conspicuous that morning, might be added to the Fire Brigade Committee. The difficulties of forming a Brigade would, he was sure, be lessened by his presence on the committee. The resolution was carried. Mr. Bond said he wished to make a few remarks on what had been stated by Mr. Drew relative to several lengths of hose being left behind in the engine-house. It was a very difficult thing to get the engines properly handled where there were so many masters as there were that morning, but no piece of hose had been left behind; a piece had fallen inside the engine-house, which had afterwards been obtained. Captain Bough called attention to the subscription lists ; and, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting broke up.