Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 663, 3 February 1864, Page 5

been destroyed or threatened, and t> their bedding or household elr'cetd with which those streets were lined. Butmost happily, the quarter whence the slight wind came gave time—and time only could enable something effectual to be done to check the spread of the fire. Messrs Mills^ick, and Co.'s offices ignited while the types, presses, &c. were being got out; but, at last, all the arrangements for pulling them down were completed, and out. the front was pulled, to the effectual demolition of the whole. The debris was cleared off, and there was room to hope that Messrs Tickle's place was saved. But still danger threatened in another direction Mr Coleman's store was burning more fiercely than any of those already destroyed, and the flames were hissing and crackling about and from Mr Casper's, in a way which showed that its combustion would be still more vivid and rapid. Below this store, and fronting Hope street, •were the1 British Dining Rooms, kept by Mr Hutchinson; the Temperance Dining Rooms of Mr Moran; and one or two smaller erections. Backing close aginst the side of Casper's store, were two rows of cottages belonging to Mr W.Hooper, to which access was given by rightrof-way known as Hooper's ""Lane. These cottages were in flames, and a group of low shanties and sheds was in danger of catching momentarily. Those thedsiand^hamties would have carried the flames, on one hand, to some la^ge stores in Stafford-street, and on the other (and worse'still) to the stables of Messrs Cole, Hoyt, and Co. f which stretch across al- . most from Stafford-street to Walker-street, and which would have served as a conductor of the flumes to Messrs Cargill's ■tores, and so into the line of Princes■treet. Then, scarcely a yar Jof the entire ' ground-block within the lour street boundaries named, could have been kit covered with other than charred ruins. But Mr Joseph Mills, whom we have on previous occasions had to mention with high praise for his tact and daring in such matters, saw not only the danger' but the means of (humainly speaking) averting it. ' He represented both to Mr Cirgill; and that gentleman and others' desired him to carry out bis plan, guaranteeing that he Bhould be held harmless. lie almost instantly collected volunteer's for the task, and in a short time, five or six erections were levelled with the ground. They included three cottages belonging to Mrs Hearne,one belonging to Mr Walker,.of the Royal Hotel, and one owned by Messrs Cole, Ployt, and Co. Then an open space was left, and there was hope that the extent of the fire was defined. About the same time, a small cottage which fronted Hope street, and stood on the opposite side of the ri^bt-of-way mentioned, was pulled down, and thus a check was put to the likelihood of the flames round- - ing the corner into Walker street. It happily proved that all danger, of an extension of the conflagration was over. The remain 3of Mr Casper's store were one great mass of embers and flame, evidently containing materials for two or three days' burning; there was more or less of. fire over an area of probably sixty yards by eighty yards; but one could itand near the bank formed by the pavement of Stafford - street, and have the melancholy satisfaction of feeling that the worst was known, or was visible. The value of the contents of Mr Casper's store were variously estimated at from L 50,000 to :LIOO,OOO or more. The ownership of the store was about to be .transferred, if it had not actually been done. We have heard the names of two gentlemen as those of the transferee, and we therefore hesitate to publish either. To what extent the goods were insured, can hardly be. learned fora day or two; but it was .-Said, .'last' evening, that Mr Cleve had only yesterday morning completed the instarance for L2OOO of a consignment of oats which lay in the place. Messrs Hart's "stock was estimated to be worth between L70.')0 and L 8000; and they are insured for something -over L3OOO. 'Of the respective losses of the other sufferers, we could not learn anything in the confusion which prevailed last night; and we shall be glad 'to receive information, from those ,who •lone can give it, of the estimated values. of the stocks and buildings destroyed, and the extent to which they were insured. We fear that our own statement at the outset, tbat the damage will amount to Lloo,ooo, will prove considerably under the mark. t We have spoken of the readiness of a large number of men to do what tliey could to extinguish the flames or to save :. property, and to do it well. Of course, f there were loafing rascils in the crowd who had other dispositions. In Stafford street, Walker street, and Hope street, the goods saved from the stores were unavoidably huddled together on the opposite side of the roadway, and were pretty much at the mercy of rogues, despite the vigilance of the police. The storekeepers in Walker street, who hid the most ample allowance of time to prepare for the worst, had most of the stock they could remove also carted away to other places. But in Hope street, where wines and spirits, as well as less tempting things, were necessarily bundled out—and where it really was the most convenient plan to roll many things down the embankment left at one place by the recent formation of the street —some of the loaf- • |ng genus were not detected in time to prevent their similarly dealing with casks of spirits, while others were found with a # cask broached, 'and helping themselves freely to the contents. A cask or two got accidentally burst opposite Casper's bond, and a stream of fire waa added to the other dangers of those near. We have not heard of any serious accident during the fire. One of the Volunteer Brigade was caught and knocked down by the front of Messra Mills, Dick, and Co.'s offices, as it was pulled out; another had his foot hurt by one of the large hooka. falling upon it; and several were slightly " burned or bruised. But nothing happened of sufficient importance to be reported to Vjf the police. Half past Two. The flames are still strong i but three engines have been connected with the Bay

so that a good supply of water is being poured on the burning masses. Some thieves' were busily engaged in getting hams out of the ruins, especially, from those of Casper?B store ; and there was a considerable number of drunken, men staggering or lying about in the neighborhood

At the time we went to press the nuns were still burning fiercely; but we sincerely trust that our readers will find us to have been correct in stating that, at that time there was no chance of a further spread of the conflagration. There will doubtless be many details of interest to be learned during the day ; and all such we shall publish.