OPOTIKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume III, Issue 898, 29 September 1866, Page 6

OPOTIKI.

(fBOM OTJP OWN CORRESPONDENT.) September 17, 18GG. At about a quarter past nine this evening, an alarm of fire was sounded in ca'cp, and on turning out and proceeding to the spot found it to have proceeded from the building originally put up as a Roman Catholic Chapel, although, I am given to understand, it has never been consecrated for that purpose. Bince the disturbances in this neighbourhood, the building has been used for various purposes, and amongst others, for private theatricals during the time the Defence Force were stationed here, an d having once been us 3d for that purpose, it was de cided by the committee of the dramatic company, lately organised at this place, to give- a theatrical performance there on the evening of Saturday next, withthepermis-ion the CoiumanJing Officer, and have consequently for some days past been bu-ily engaged in making all the nes&ssary preparations for the forthcoming entertainment. The fire w*B found to have commenced under the building, and in less than ten minutes, owns; t) the dryness of the material used in its construction anl •the breeze blowing at the time, it was ouc blaza from «nd to end, and so intense was the heat at one time, that it was greatly feared the hau-o occupied by Captain Leggett wouli also bn consumed, but there being plenty of ready and willing hands, a few buckets of water, well applied, cooled the roof and sides, and prevented any v<-ry serious damage. Two other small fires occurred from the falling apartß, which were wafted some hundreds of yards ; but every one being ou the qui vivc for such casualties, they were promptly extinguished without any damage being done. As there appetra to have been great d'sg-.tisfaction expressed by the Catholics against the building boin<r used for dramatic purposes, it i* generally supposed that the fire was the work of an incendiary ; but -■without entering into a regular controversy as to •whether the building should or should not bo used ■for such purposes, surely there muat be more honorable means of preventing what they look upon as desecration, than having recourse to fire and endangering the lives and property of the whole camp ; and if it is a crime to have a building used for amuseonenta, surely it is a greater crime to wilfully set fire ■to a piaee of worship, although not at pre3ent used ibr that holy purpose. At any rate if it was wilfully done to prevent the entertainment frotn taking place, they will be greatly disappointed, for so determined were the committee after all the trouble and expense they harl been at, that before midniuht another building had been very generously offered, and of course accepted with jjjh'anks, and now the performance will take place at ;the specified time, and no doubt will prove a great "tieat to the patrons of such arausemi nts. The sports have partly taken place, but owing to -the length of this letter, shall defer sending the until next opportunity.