From The Colonist, August 7.)

Colonist, Volume IX, Issue 927, 14 August 1866, Page 4

From The Colonist, August 7.)

About 3 a.m., on Tuesday, 7th of Aiiffujrt, the clanging of the fire-bell alarmed; the inhabitants, and a fierce glare of light in the sky, with large flames rising up in the air in the Upper part of Bridge-street, showed that a large fire had broken out.

The fire was found to have broken out in. the Nelson Hotel, a large house belonging Mr. M'Gree, at, the corner of Collingvrood and Bridge streets. The origin of the fireia variously stated; some say it arose in one of the upper bedrooms, and by others it is believed to be the work of an incendiary;, but the facts so far as ascertainable, will come out in the inquest into the cause of the fire.

From the Nelson Hotel, which blazed fiercely, the Eoyal Hotel, adjoining further down the street, quickly caught fire. Then followed the premises of Mr. Laney, Baiter, and the workshop and dwelling house of Mr. Macartney, tinplateworker. On the upper corner of. Bridge Street, opposite Mr. M'G-ee's, the large building occupied by Mr. Condell, as a store and dwelling house, speedily. caught, and all was ablaze. It communicated the fire to another house up Collingwood Street, and soon extended its flames to the National Boarding House, kept by Mrs. Townsend, on Bridge Street. Adjoining this, the crockery shop of Mr. Barnes followed; and it was only by a steady application of the smaller fire engine, that the house of Mr. Nattrass was preserved. Mr. Fish's premises, and'thoseof Mr. Avery were soon also hopelessly in flames.

Meanwhile to the opposite side of Bridge, street, the heat of the flames from the Nelson and the Eoyal was carried with great fury by a strong wind which was blowing from the south-west. Large flakes of fire were carried from the burning building; and the enormous heat made the houses on the other side take fire.- The Temperance Hall caught, and was shortly wrapped' inflames. Then followed the Young Men's; Christain Association, and both were rapidly beyond hope of recovery. These communicated to five or sis smaller dwelling houses on the upper side. Long did the Mitre Hotel, occupied to Mr. Owens at the corner opposite to M'Gee's, resist with its slated roof, the many sparks which fell on it; but an .adjoining house, covered with shingles took fire, and there being no possibility of getting an engine to play on it or to preserve the Mitre it speedily was in flames, and the fire spread * on that side of the street, consuming the dwelling house adjoining the Mitre; the - premises of Mr. Pratt, butcher, and causing the gutting of the shop of Mr. Shone, cabinet-maker, which by great effort was saved, although only the shell was left; and a outer bailding next door to Mrs. .Sharpe's lodging house being pulled down, the fire on that side was stayed. Gradually, creeping against the wind, the fire reached the dwelling-house close to Mr. M'Artney's shop ; and by very great effort, with water and wet blankets, and remarkable endurance on the part of numerous volunteers, the business premises and dwelling-house of Mr; Tatton, chemist, were saved. Altogether.in addition to the three hotels, , the Temperance Hall, and the Christian's Eooms, and the large store belonging to Mr. Conctell, about thirteen other buildings have been destroyed ; and by pulling down various out houses, and intervening buildin os, the progress' of the fire was stayed. ■ At first, and for more than hour, no one could get the engines, and when the large one was put in working order, it had to supply water by forcing from the eel pond, to the smaller engine further down. The paddocks of Mr. Harley in lower Collingwood Street, were alive with houseless people, and covered with furnitui'e. Mr. M'Gree has saved nothing, and the people in the house hr.d to flee for their jives. Mr. Condell has also lost all; but a a portion of the stock of: Mr. Owens, and - others has been saved.

As near as we can ascertain, the following are the names of the occupants of the houses destroyed:—

0. M'G-ee's, Nelson Hotel, (new.) J. Porthouse, Eoyal Hotel. E. Laney, baker, shop and dwell in g-house John M'Artney, (wide frontage) shop and dwelling-house: T. Condellj grocery establishment (large corner property). — Avery, boot maker, Collingwood-street, house and shop. — Pish, draper, house" and shop.. Mrs. Townsend's Boarding Establishment — Barnes, crockery-ware dealer, house and shop. ,

Temperance Hall. Rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. " George Dickens, carpenter, dwelling" house. Hugh Beattie, constable, dwelling-house. H. Barraclough's medicated bath establishment. S. Owens, Mitre Hotel (large building* quite new.) . . Mr. M'Artney, verandah cottage, adjoining the Mitre Hotel. . * , Mr. Pratt's butchery establishment and' dwelling-house. Here the fire was arrested, but it burned round the back, missing Mr. Leech's coachbuilding premises which were pulled down. * Mrs. Sharpe's boarding-house, was Bayed by the same means as Mr. Tattbn-s house, by dariug exertion, and a plentiful supply ot wet blankets.

The loss at a rough calculation is between J6XO^)QOai^

Mr. M'Geo was insurod for £1700, and Mr. Porthouse to about half the value of his stock, Mr. OwenaV insurance had unfortunately lapsed, aud he has lost almost everything, for what has been saved proves much damaged. Mr. Eish has also lost his all to about £350, and is also uninsured, books and stock all gone. Mr. Townsend is also uncovered Mr. Condell's property 18 believed to be covered ; but there is a great loss on a large stock which he had on hand.

The fire was stopped in its progress towards the Provincial G-overnmentbuildings by the house of Mr. Luke Nattrass, the wails of which ar e zinc, and which as well aa the shingled rO of weve thickly covered by a creeping plant, which, with the water that was thrown \t, resisted the progress of the flames, and saved at least two other buildings if not more. Unforturiately, Mr, Nattrass has Suffered considerable damage to. both house and furniture, the roof as well as the wood work inside having taken fire from the external heat, and melted the zinc plates in several parts.

Some of Mr. M'Gee's children had a very narrow escape, one of them being literally dragged through the flames by Mr. M'Gee.

The Temperance Hall is partly insured, and so we understand are the Association Kooms.

The Piano and music of the Harmonic Society was saved from the Temperance Hall, aa were also the insignia of the Trustees and Free Mas on a.

The smaller dwelling houses which have been burned, will cause great loss and distress to their owners, who are generally quite uninsured.