FIRE AT RANGIAOHIA.

New Zealander, Volume XXII, Issue 2412, 25 April 1865, Page 3

FIRE AT RANGIAOHIA.

It has already coma before the eyes of the pahlic that a fire broke odt in' Rangiaohie, and ended in the total destruction of the Catholic • mission station, which comprised a . fine large dwelling-house, to which was annexed a dormitory an i relectory for boarding scholars. The origin of the fire was merely accidental, caneed by the failing in of some cinder* through a small crevice at one side .of the fireplace. The precise time at which the conflagration commenced is not known, but by onfe o’clock, a.m.. it was .discovered by the inmates,some of whom bad not much time to consider, the Safest mode of escape. - However, it is Weasing to hear that no personal injury of buff has Wen' sustained by any of the party inside. On , detection of - the fire, the alarm was immediately communicated to the neighboring military redoubt by the ringing of a school bell, anil, according to report, thanks to Captain Blewitt, the: officer in command, a piquet of’ E&M. sSth Regiment war by. Lieutenant William Delapoifj and through their energetic and untiring exertions the; school-house and kitchen wefe saved ffem being destroyed with the Presbytery. It was useless, at the time of their arri val, to: try to save the main bnilding. as the flames had already made too great progress, and hence, with bfte accord, they resolved on saving the school-house and kitchen, which were at a short distance, and succeeded in doing so by means of a damp tarpaulin, which they .kept constantly moistened, with water, fetched from a distance not less than 400 yards. The hour (2 o’clock, a.m.) arrived which witnessed the entire annihilation of the structure, preyed upon previously by the fire for three.quarers of ah hour. In this. short time a large dwelling-house, containing ia good supply of clothing and bedding for the an assortment vpf furniture, and a supply of provisions sufficient to last six months had been destroyed. Nothing was saved- from the fire, save a few blankets and a little' clothing, which/ each person .carried with him. Tlje loss is estimated at £4OO. On the arrival of two telegraphic despatches in Auckland, kindly' sent by the Very Bev. Father Parsley, chaplain to the forces, the one conveying the account of the accident, the other reporting the great want of snpplies, the Right Rev. Pr. Pompallier, the venerable Bishop of Auckland, with his usual paternal sqlicimde, directed his Vicar-General, Very Rev. Dr, McDonald, to provide, immediately the articles requisite for the sufferers. In order to expedite the conveyence ot the goods, application was made to Chislett, Esq, officer in command of the < jommipsariat ,Transport Oorps at Auckland, who, with benevolent feelings and diligence, most willingly, cooperated in the good work. Much* credit is also dne to Captain Harrison, agent of colonial steamer plying on the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. To have the supplies safely conveyed on the way, Rev. Anthony Pompallier was appointed by the Bishop to take charge of the goods, which office he fulfilled : with efficiency. The kindness of the military authorities; did nt rest here, for at Rangiaohia. ten- soldiers are daily employed, under the direction of their officers and by special orders from BrigadierGeneral Carey, in the erection of a fine raupohonse, 40 feet by 18. Every one is hastening to bring to a finish a comfortable shelter for three distressed children. There is also a subscription opened amongst the military men of the same locality, which has airaad realised the liberal sum of £7O. It would be a great work of charity on the part of the people of Auckland and its neighborhood to assist the above institution, which has for its object the education of youth. —C mmunicated. -< y , [We have been to allow a subscription list for the above object to lie at oar office, and shall be happy to receive any donations;-.- Another subscription list lies at the office of the Vicar-General, at the Roman Catholic Bishop’s house. —80. N.Z.]