GREAT FIRES IN DUNEDIN AND CHRISTCHURCH.

Colonist, Volume VIII, Issue 770, 10 March 1865, Page 2

GREAT FIRES IN DUNEDIN AND CHRISTCHURCH.

MUCH PROPERTY DESTROYED,

"We copy the following from the Wellington Independent: — At two o'clock on "Wednesday morning (Bth February) another fire broke out in the Octagon, Dunedin, in a bedding and furniture store. The flames spread with fearful rapidity, so that in less than an hour the following property was destroyed:— FROM FELLEXBEEG'S TO STUAET-STBEET. Fellenberg and Ferceau, upholsterers and mattrass makers; M. Fleming, hay and corn store ; Thomas Martin, Eoyal Oak Hotel; Three small shops, occupied as dwelling houses; House at corner pulled down, which prevented the fire spreading to Geddes, undertaker. FBOM FELLENBEBO-'S TOWARDS PBINCES-STBEET. J. R. Crawford, chemist, in front of which was a post-office receiving-box; Robert Burns, surgeon; Gruy Bennett's Victorian Hotel. PEINCES-STEEET. Madame De Courtet, modiste; Andrew S. "Wilson, chemist and druggist; Mrs. Alpenny, milkshop, lately a registry oflice; Mrs. Cooper's Family Hotel. Ultimately, through the efforts of the Volunteer Fire Brigade, the flames were got under. No estimate of the amount of loss is given in the Dunedin papers. DISTEUOTIVE FIEE IN CHRISTOHURCH. On Bth February, between twelve and one o'clock, a fire broke out in the premises occupied by Mr. Walters, cabinetmaker, in the Papanui road, adjoining the Phoenix Brewery. The house was a semi-detached one, but some of the out-buildings were close to those of the Phoenix Brewery, and those at the rear of Mr. Rutland's house and workshops, and the space unoccupied by houses was planted with trees. The origin of the fire is at present unknown, but it is supposed 1;o have arisen from the casual ignition of a heap of shavings and rubbish on Mr. Walters' premises. The fire spread so rapidly, that all hope of saving Walters' premises was abandoned, and the energies of the firemen, volunteers, and spectators wei'e directed to save the adjoining house in the occupation of Mr. Rutland. These efforts were, however, unavailing, and Mr. Rutland's dwelling-house and workshops, with all their contents, turninglathes, &c, were entirely destroyed. From this spot the flames reached the malt-house attached to the Phoenix Brewery, and from thence to the premises of Mr. Price, a wheelwright, and Mr, King, a blacksmith. These were entirely consumed. The malt-house, in which were 2500 bushels of malt, was considerably injured, and the contents greatly damaged both by fire and by the water. About 1.45 the fire showed symptoms of abating, the flames were less fierae, and at 2 p.m. all danger might be said to be at an end. Even then, however, the fire seemed to cling with tenacity to the projecting wooden parapets of the houses. The utmost exertions were made throughout by the firemen Volunteers. The engine worked admirably as soon as it was got into order. Some idea of the force with which the water is projected may be formed from the fact that at one time the steam pressure was shown by the register to be 1301b5.; four hundredweight of coal, besides wood, were employed in getting up the steam. The loss is estimated by the Lyttelton Times to be at least £3000.

Epidemic in Wellington.—During the last month an epidemic disease —scarlatina—has been severely felt in Wellington, and many of our little ones hare been snatched away by the grim destroyer. Not more than one or two fatal cases of the disease have occurred with adults, and from what we learn it is to be hoped that the worst is now over. With one of the healthiest climates in the world, the sanitary condition of Wellington in many parts of the city is very bad, and until a system of sewerage is adopted, and a proper water supply obtained, there will always be danger of disease again breaking out in such an alarming form. — Independent. How the Money Goes in Wellington.—The people ot Wellington require to keep good watch over their public acts, for they have a severe censor in the press of Auckland, from whom nothing will escape. Under the title " How the Money Goes," the New Zealand Herald writes:—" Our friends in the South, says ' the man in the street,' are making a good thing out of the little war, the Wanganui affair, which was part of the programme of the Weld Ministry. The other day, some twelve horses, part of the cargo of the Wanganui, were left behind at Onehunga. Did they wait the departure 01 the next steamer ? Certainly not. A Wellington vessel was-chartered for the express purpose of bringing them on, and the passage of those horses cost the country some 200 per cent, more than the animals were really worth. The same thing occurred again. Some of the General's papers were, we hear, left behind. They shall be had at once, says an obsequious Wellington ministry, and a Wellington steamer is forthwith chartered for £400 to run up to Auckland for the aforesaid papers. What a pity (for Wellington) that such a very liberal ministry has not got a £3,000,000 loan to work upon!