MISCELLANEOUS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1589, 7 June 1861, Page 6

MISCELLANEOUS.

Bank op New South Wales. — The Inspector of the Bank of New South \V:iles was a passenger by the Lord Ashley to Nelson. He proceedo.l by the Airedale to Auckland, to make preliminary arrangements to open a Branch in = th:it province, and will next visit Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland, to establish Branches in each of those provinces. The Manager of the Canterbury Brunches, for there are to bo two in that province, one at Christ church and another at Lyttelton, is a passenger by the L'trcl Ashley. The Bank of New South Wales is the oldest and one of the tnost influential in the Austrian Colonies, having been established in 1817. It is a Colonial Institution, and has a paid up capital of £750,000, with a reserve fund of £212,500. The last half yearly balance sheet of the Bank of New South* Wales showed a total of nearly £6,000,000, thus testifying that this Bank possesses a very large share of public confidence in the neighbouring colonies. Wo understand that an arrangement has been made by which the Oriental B.mk will retire in favour of the Bank of New South Wales. AooiDiiNT. — On Sunday afternoon last, as a little girl named Comte, was .playing with some other Children on the breastwork, near Plimmer's wharf, she accidently fell off; and would certainly have been drowned if it had not been for tlie timely assist mce rendered by Mr. Hugh Douglas, who immediately plunged into the water with his clothes on and rescued her. TiMßUit TnADE.—Lnst week, Mr. John Plimmer sold 70,000 feet of sawn timler, boards and scantling, for the Canterbury market, at 10s pur 100 feet, on the wharf. 20,000 feet weie shipped on board the Pride, which sailed for Christchurch on Saturday, and we understand that this vessel is to return and convey the remaining quantity in successive trips, bringing wheat and oats as return cargos. AH the saw mills are at present actively employed. Huapaho Volcano.— Captain Cruncher of the Mary Thompson, has informed us, that previous to his leaving the Wailara, the Uuapaho volcano had burst into active operation. It was first observed at the Waitara on the morning of the 16(h of May; when dense voHtnWs of smoke were seen issuing from its suinmir>, ami j at night a lurid glare wa.s reflected by the heavens. The maories appeared greatly surprised at the event, as the'' oldest inhabitant had never before seen it in active operation. -_ Extensive Fiith\ — On Saturday evening last, Mr. Horace Brnughton* arrived in town, avant counter, from Wan«siuui,hnn<r ingintelli genee of the destruction by fire of Messrs. Taylor, Watt, & Cos., retail store, and of Messrs. Gudgeon's andjiioJjerts' odices, being adjoining buildings. Mr. Broughton left Wanganui un Friday, at noon, and accomplished the distance in about thirty hours ; but would have done it in much less tinu 1 , only his horse got knocked up. We have been furnished with the following particulars of the sad catastrophe by Mr. Broughton, who was present on the occasion. The lire was observed at half-past five o'clock on Friday mor: ing last, and at the time it was seen Mr. Robert's office, a small building situate between Messrs. Gudgeon's and Messrs. Taylor, Watt, & Co., stoics, was in one mass of flame, and the end of Taylor, Watt, Sc Co.'s store was also on fire. The alarm being given, the military turned out with the utmost alacrity, and were soon at the scene of couihgration, bringing with them their fire engine. A large number of the inhabitants were also present, and the military and civilians appeared to vie with each other in their endeavours to extinguish the flames. The fire, however, had got such hold, that notwithstanding the most praiseworthy exertions, it was found impossible to save Messrs. Taylor, Watt, & Co.'s retail store. All attention was then directed to the bonded stores, which were immediately at the back, and every means adopted to prevent their igniting, an 1 we are happy to say, that the strenuous efforts of those present were crowned with success. Major Murray, the officers of the garrison, and the detachment of the gallant 65th stationed <it Wanganui, exerted themselves to the utmost ; and are deserving of credit Cor the prompt assistance they rendered, as well as far their strenuous exertions, in extinguishing the (lames. The fire was very rapid in its progress, the whole of the buildings beinsy burnt to the ground in less than an hour. Very little property was saved, and we regret to hoar that Messrs. Taj lor, Watt, &c Go., will sustain a heavy loss, as they were only partially ensured The estimated value of the property destroyed is between £8000 and £9000. Mr. Waters, to whom the other buildings belonged, will also he a loser to some extent. It was not known how the fire orginated.