THE STAFFORD STREET FIRE AGAIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 836, 26 August 1864, Page 5

THE STAFFORD STREET FIRE AGAIN.

{To the Editor of the Daily Times.)

Sir—We observe in your issue of this morning another of Mr E. B. Cai'gill's lengthy effusions on the subject of relief tJ the sufferers by the late fire in {Stafford street. We should not have taken any notice of it, but that he throws out a hint of ungenerous -behaviour on the part of the " Victorian Insurance Company," which we represent in this province, To the fncts as stated by Mr Oargill -we content ourselves wish giving an express denial. When we were spoken to oa the subject, we replied that we were not interested in the matter. Ka>J we at the time the fire was burning considered that the destruction of any building would save any of our risks, we should have had it removed on our own responsibility, and paid for it, hut wecaDnot see that it would be judicious for us to pay for any houses Mr B. B. Gargill orders to he pulled down. If he orders them to be renJoved, why, we think it is only right that he should pay for them ; so that the concluding flourish of his letter, conearningl the cheque, is rather misplaced. You are doubtless aware that there is no association of the different offices here, as in Melbourne, when the offices appoint an officer under whose orders any houses are pulled down, his duty being to protect property irrespective of what company's risks are in danger. But in this place each agent must look after his own risks, and be responsible for his own acts. When the occasion comes, we are certain that the Victoria insurance Company will not be inclined to. risk, the high character which it has attained elsewhere for promptitude and gene rosify

We are, &c, Wai. Watson and Sons, Agents Victorian Insurance Company.

A Good Head for a Soldier.—An American paper (the Alexandria Sentinel) gives details of the case of a New York Volunteer who was hit in the head by a spent ball at Mine Run ia November, but the' surgeon ou repeated probins: failed to discover any ball, aud the man's general health continued very good, notwithstanding occasional pain. In April, however, the pains became more frequent and severe, and he returne I to the hospital, and the surgeon probing the wound found the bail, and promised to extract it next day. Suddenly in the meantime the ball shifted its position, and the man would nave been choked but tor the arrival ot the surgeon, who then extracted it with care. For five montJis the soldier had been carrying in his head a grape shot (iron) about four inches in circumference, and weighing nearly half a pound. Meyerbeer leaves to each of his daughters an income of 56,000fr a year, and one of 93,000fr to his widow. Th^ ar3£T Abroad.—A war office return shows that there are in British North America, New Zealand, and the Cape (not reckoning men ordered home, and not to be replaced), eight companies of the Royal Engineers, 22J batteries of Royal Ai-tillery, 26 regiments or battalions of infantry, one of the Military Train, and two of colonial corps, boraeon the Btrength of the Imperial army. I THE