Local Intelligence.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1400, 24 January 1860, Page 3

Local Intelligence.

Fihe at Gbeytown. — Information reached town this morning of au extensive fire in the bush at this place, which we Vfigrat to say has done considerable damage. Mr. Moles who had a splendid • 12 acre field of wheat, which would probably have yielded from fifty to sixty bushels to the acre, has had nearly the whole of it destroyed. His fences are also much injured. Other property and crops have been slightly damage. , and have had a very narrow escape of being entirely consumed. We cannot but again impress upon the country settlers the necessity of being careful in lighting bush files, as, in this unprecedented dry season, there is uo telling where it may run to. Dawke's bay. We understand that Mr. Wright, Engineer to the Hawke's Bay Government, who was despatched a si. on time since to Sydney fora survey staff, and to purchase a steam dredge for clearing the entrance to Napier harbour, has succeeded in engaging four gentlemen for the survey. They caino to Wellington by the Lord Worsley, and piocced to day by the Wonga W.myu to their destination: Mr. Weber, who is principal of the staff, is a native of Ge>many, where he was au officer of the Artillery of the Electorate of Hasse Cassel, and no doubt will prove a valuable acquisition to the Hawke's Bay Province. Mr. Wright had not been able to procure in Sydney a steam dredge of suffi cient power, and had therefore gone to Ade

laide, where he w.\s informed he could procure one suitable for the wants of the place. Fiuk.— Last nivrht, about 11 o'clock, a fire bi-oke out in the house occupied by Mr. Kollo, Hill-street, Thorndon, which in about twenty minutes entirely destroyed it. The inmates had retired to rest about 10 o'clock, and did not nwake iuntil the downstairs and a portion .of the- roof \yere in a blaze. Fortunately, jlhe children we're" sleeping down stairs, otherwise it is'feared they must have perished; as it was, I no one in the house escaped with more than their night clothes. The hiss will be great, as the whole of Air. Hollo's carpenter's tools, which were of a superior character, have, in in addition to the house and furniture been completely burnt, and are only partially insured. Fears weie entertained for Mr. Costali's house almost adjoining, which was only prevented from taking fire by the exertions of the inhabitants, whom the alarm bells had succeeded in gathering-. The fiercenees ofihe wind drove flakes of fire across Mr Bowler's paddock, and considering the dryness of the season, it may be looked upon as lfttle short of a miracle that a much larger extent of property was not destroyed. The military on this, as on all former occasions were quickly at the scene of action, and under the able superintendence of Captain Turner, rendered most effective service. Fait!: at Ohabiu. — We regret to hear that Mr. Couelly's house at Ohaviu was burned yesterday. It was one of the best, if not the i)e.sijiuusci,in the district, and intended ..for a pubhe. The particulars have not reached us.