VERY LATEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1477, 16 June 1879, Page 2

VERY LATEST.

Received at 2.30 a.m. GREAT FIRE AT WELLINGTON. Wellington, June 16, 12.10 a.m. A fearful fire l;roke out at 7.55 p.m., m the Imperial Opera House. When entered flrewasfoundinthcdomeoftheauditoriuin. No clue was obtained as to the cause of the fire. The flumes quickly g.iined complete mastery of the building, and extended rapidly on each side and across the street to the Working Men's Club, and all the buildings up to the New Zealander Hotel on one side, and to and including the To Aro Branch Bank of New Zealand on the other side were completely destroyed Across the street the Manners street Wesleyan church and parsonage went. Pirie's drapery simp at one corner and Emeny's Royal Oak Hotel at the other were quickly a mass of flames. Tho Nag's Head Hotel, at the corner of Dixoti street, was destroyed, and several small tenements on the other side of Cuba street. The Corporation Market Hall and shops were also destroyed. Smith's Te Aro House was saved through the heroic exertions of the Fire Brigades. Whitehouse's grocery and a large lodginghouse adjoining, though several times on fire, seem likely to be saved. The destruction of property is enormous, probably LIOO.OOO. Fully fortyseven tenements have bean destroyed. Fortunately the wind moderated or the firo would have swept half the town. The insurances mv.st be tremendous. A total of about L 30.000 has already been ascertained, but the list is most incomplete. The Opera House was insured for LGBOO. Hiscock and Haymau's Company playing there have suffered serious los 3 m their wardrobe, and Miss Beatrice m jewellery, but arrangements have already been ma<le for their opening m the Theatre Royal ■to-morrow night. Rumors are current that at least one fireman lost his life m the fall of the Opera House, but nothing definite i 3 ascertainable. No report of any loss of life has been made to the police.