FEARFUL FIRE AT BOORHANPORE, IN INDIA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 391, 31 October 1868, Page 7

FEARFUL FIRE AT BOORHANPORE, IN INDIA.

FOUR THOUSAND HOUSES DESTROYED AND SEVEN HUNDRED LIVES LOST. A correspondent of the Nagpore Observer of June 10th, sends an account of the recent dreadful fire which has almost made a ruin of this once fine and prosperous town. The following are the particulars : —" On the 30u1t., at noon, a terrible fire broke out in the Itwarra Manilla. This is a densely populated quarter of the town, and is moreover chiefly inhabited by opulent classes of the bora caste, and other most respectable Hindoos. The flames rapidly spread over the whole of the Manilla. Nothing could resist the hungry element. The houses of the town setned to catch fire by sympathy ; for they became apparently all ignited at once. I never witnessed so dreadful a scene. The sky was red at noonday with the flames. This fire has caused immense loss of property, and worse still, of human life. It has been ascertained that seven hundred human beings have perished in the flames. There is nothing but weeping and wailing in the town. People are looking for their relatives and friends ; but they cant' find them for they have been calcined to ashes. It is estimated that twenty lacs of rupees worth of property has been destroyed. The police deserve our thanks for their great exertion. They not only exerted themselves energetically to extinguish the fire, but also kept a careful watch over the property secured from the burning houses. The conduct of the police was most admirable on that sad occasion, and having myself been a spectator of their conduct I can justly add tribute of my humble humble commendation. Nothing could exceed their dauntless bravery. They rushed fearlessly into the flames and dragged out burning boxes. They also plunged into the blazing houses and snatched out men, women and children, who would otherwise have either been consumed by the flames or smothered by the smoke. A melancholy circumstance connected with this terrible fire is worthy of notice. An opulent merchant succeeded in rescuing several bags of rupees, containing on the whole 40.000 : but upon his re-entering his house in order to recover more, the burning roof fell upon him, and he was buried under the fiery ruins of his own residence. It is calcula ed that at least 4000 houses hvae been destroyed."

On the old Caledonian Terrace a rush set in on Wednesday about one o'clock, not far from Braithwaite's celebrated old claim, which is now nearly worked out, and which paid about .£3O per man per week, for over the twelve months it lasted. This is an entirely distinct lead, and has been struck close to Denovan's and Collins' claims, which just adjoin where the new claims are being pegged out. Over sixty men were on the ground at two o'clock on yesterday, and the number was fast increasing at a later hour as our informant left the locality. The length of the new lead is about a quarter of a mile, and will give over twelve months work to a large number of men. It proves our constant assertion that numerous undiscovered leads exist at our very doors, and that the originators of the new prospecting movement were wise indeed. We shall have more full particulars, we trust, by next issue, but may state that the rush has been occasioned by gold being struck in Braithwaite's old tunnel, the dirt of which gave a prospect of three grains to the dish.

Even though all grander coal schemes may have to remain in abeyance, we are surprised that some of the easily obtainable coal at the "Waimongoroa has not yet been exhumed and brought into town. At the Waimongoroa, where Mount Eocbfort dips to the river, there is a seam, some four feet thick, of splendid mineral, and it could be so easily got that it would actually pay to cart it into Westport, and at low water a splendid road is j offered for such a purpose along tne beach. The coal is of first-class quality, and the supply inexhaustible j A tramway above high-water mark could be formed at very slight expense, and would not ouly be useful for coal purposes, but would return a good income from passenger and goods carriage. We might thus creep before we walk, and it is to be hoped that the scheme will attract the attention it deserves. If carried out, it would both benefit the town and the people who enter into the speculation.

We perceive by the latest Dunedin, papers to hand that the Excelsior, schooner, was laid on for this port, and was announced to have immediate d

despatch. As our Dunedin exchanges at the time of writing are now nearly a fortnight old, it is probable that the vessel will arrive nearly as soon as the announcement of her probable advent appears. Our readers Will see by a report in another column how the river protection petition has fared. We postpone comment, but at the same time, in common, we are sure, with a large majority of the inhabitants, are glad to find that the result has not arisen through any partiality or unfairness to this portion of the province. A bankrupt treasury is our difficulty, let us hope that in some way or other even it may be surmounted.

We learn by the arrival of the John Penn that Wanganui is in a very unsettled state, if not one of actual terror. Tito Itawaru is literally master of the situation, and threatens the town daily. He is said to have SOO trained warriors, armed to the teeth, under his command, and within easy distance of Wanganui. If this is true, the inhabitants have every reason for alarm, but it is to be hoped that the numbers have been exaggerated. We regret to state that a rumor of the drowning of H. Pry, formerly keeping an hotel in this town, proves

to be so well founded as to leave little doubt of its correctness. It appears that the unfortunate man was engaged as cook on board the John Penn, and was with her at "Wanganui on the 14th inst. On that night, between 9 and 10

o'clock, some ladies v/ho wei*e walking on the poop, heard a splash in the water on the other side of the vessel

to that on which they were walking. They went across, and on looking over, saw something black in water that they thought was a dog, but the night was dark, and they could not tell certainly what the object was. There was no cry or apparent struggle, and they thought no more of it till next morning, when Fry was missing, Mr Gillon, the purser, immediately communicated with the police, and a thorough search of the town was made without finding any trace of the missing man. On the return of the John Penn, though the most active exertions to seek him out had been made, their exertions were attended with no success, and there can be little doubt that the poor fellow is drowned. The idea of his having absconded is very improbable, as he had no reason to do so, and on the contrary had left money and a gold watch in the custody of Mr G-illon.

On Thursday Mr Williams and another member of the Addison's Flat Prospectimg Committee, canvassed West-port for subscriptions in aid of their association, and met with considerable support, some forty pounds peing readily collected, and more promised. We sincerely wist them every success, and hope that their exertions will lead to more good country as yet unexplored being opened up.

The following additional item of. Maori news, we clip from the Wanganui Times of the 24th inst.— "A letter from the Native Assessor in the neighbourhood of Pipiriki was received by a Putiki chief vesterday. The Assessor states that Pehi and Tahana say that His Maori Majesty is peaceably inclined. Any disputes' which may arise about the gold-fields are to be settled judicially and not by fighting. Pie denies that any natives from the upper part of the Wanganui river have as yet joined Tito Kowaru. On this bit of information we may be allowed to remark that we can place but little reliance upon any statements of the kind coming from Pehi and Tahana. Even what they do state —or said to have stated, is very dubious. They deny that any Natives from the upper part of the Wanganui river have joined Titoko Waru. Will they say that it has not been arranged, and that they are not waiting and prepared to do so ? We

shall see." The Colonial Treasurer shows a receipt, under the "War Loan, of £IOO,OOO, as the proceeds of his draft on the Crown Agents in London in favor of the Bank of New Zealand. It is found that on tbe same day the Bank jof New Zealand issued its draft on London in favour of the Crown Agents. "As the two drafts were contemporaneous, they virtually cancelled each other ; and it is found that the Crown Agents in London exchanged one draft for the other. For this transaction the Bank has been paid one thousand pounds, as appears on Voucher No. 1612 of the Colonial Treasurer's Account." The voucher states that the one thousand is the amount paid for exchange on draft on London in favor of Crown Agents, dated 10th April, 1867.