HAWKE'S BAY.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVIi, Issue 1714, 8 April 1862, Page 6

HAWKE'S BAY.

GREAT FIRE IN NAPIER. By the Storm Bird we have news from this province to the 3rd inst. On the morning of that day afearfulfirc occurred in Napier— destroying Ferrers' Hotel ; the shops of Messrs. Aaronsou, watchmaker ; Williams, painter; Boylan, ironmonger ; and Barraud & Bridge, chemists j together with the school house. The fire broke out about 2 a.m., in the premises of Mr. Aaronson, who was awoke a few minutes after that hour by the crackling of the flames. He immediately gave the alarm, but by the time Ferrers' which is separated from Aaronson's by a 8 or 10 feet passage, and Wil-liams,'-which immediately adjoined the watchmakers,' had both caught fire, and it was seen at once that nothing could be done in the way of saving the buildings^ the efforls of all, (for by this time a good" many peopla had collected) were then directed to saving chattels from the seveall shops that seemed iv danger, by which means a good deal of properly -was saved, although no doubt much was destroyed, both by the fire and the hurry of removal. By this time a sea breeze began to freshen up, and the flames quickly spread to the adjoining shops, which were burnt down with the | greatest rapidity — the conflagration emit' i ting a volume of flame which must be seen many miles off. Mr. Boylan's soon went ; next, Barraud & Bridges ; aud last, the School-house — the three first named, (Aaronson's, Williams' and Ferrers'), being by this time level with the ground. The houses on the opposite side, Mr, Howse's, Ford and Walker's &c were for some time iv imminent danger, and were i only saved by the breeze freshening — the wind blowing the flames iv an oppo- ! site direction. Some iears were now entertained for the house, the property of Captain Newman, which stood to leeward. Fences were broken down and other precautions taken ; but with the destruction of the School-house, the danger was over. Had Captain Newmans house caught live, the Herald office would have been ihe next, fortunately both escaped. We leara that the extensive premises of Mr. Ferrer's were only insured for £1000. Mr. William's, whoso house and slock were worth about £300, was only cohered for £100. Mr, Boylan was ouly insured for £1000, although he had received goods to a larger amount. Mr. Bridge, we understand, is pretty well protected, but it is said that his insurance was only effected the day before ! The Schoolhouse was not insured at all. Had the wind been in a different direction, nothing could have saved the Government offices, and the great pile of adjacent buildings. The calamity has been a dreadful one, and much sympathy is felt for the sufferers. Strange to say, the military did not show, tiJl all was over. Surely after this, we shall have a fireengine in the town. All was over by 4 o'clock. From the Hawke's Bay Times, April 3. We regret to have to announce that Napier has been this morning visited by a most devastating fire, which in the short space of two hours, destroyed property to the of value several thousand pounds. It began in the premises oocupied by Mr. Aaronson, watchmaker, situated on the West side of Hasiing-street, and soon extended to the adjaceut buildings. The alarm was given at five minutes before three o'clock; a light breeze was blowing from the North-East, and the fire soon spread over the premises of Mr. Williams aud Mr. Boylan, laying immediately South of Mr. Aaronson's and to Mr. Ferrers', the Golden Fleece Hotel, on the North. Messrs. Barraud and Bridge's (Chemist shop) followed by Mr. Boylan's and the public school shared the same fate. About four o'olock the fire was at its height, belching forth a furious stream of sparkes, and endangering the buildings on which they showered. By five o'clock, all the buildings named (from Ferrers' to the School-house) were completely destroyed, and there was no immediate danger of any further extension of the fire. The damage done probably amounts to £7,000, of whioh about half is covered by insurance.

The following estimate of the loss sustained has been furnished us, but we need not remark that it can. only be considered an approximation : — Mr. Ferrers, Golden Fleece Hotel, £3,000. insured for £1,000 in the Liverpool and London Company. Mr. Aaronson, watchmaker, £1,200, insured for £800 in ditto. Mr. Williams, painter, £300, insured for £100 in N. Z. Company. Mr. Boylau, ironmonger, £1,800, insured for £1,000, in the Northern Insurance Company. Messrs. Banaud & Bridge. Chemists £400, insured for £400, in the Liverpool and London Company, School-house (very ok) building) £!50, So fierce at one time was the flame, that Mr. Howee's property opposite the burning mass, was only saved by the protection of W3t blankets, and these were considerably scorched. Nearly all the glass in these premises were broken by the heat. Messrs. Ford, and M'Hardy had also recourse to wet blankets, which probably saved their building. Near to this were Mr. Thompson's Restaurant, and next again, the Times office, and Mr. Danvers' Auction Mart, all of which were in danger. Fortunately, the wind was in a direction that exposed no building beyond the burning block, excepting Captain Newmans house, perhaps fifty yards away, and the Herald Office, still further off. At the hour of our going to press, the fire was still smouldering, although no fears are entertained of the safety of the neighbouring buildings. Seven spectral chimneys only now denote the site of the fine block of buildings existing yesterday. Every assistance was rendered by those the alarm bad assembled, and some portable property was saved ; but any attempt to save the burning buildings would have been like stemming the flowing tide. An inquest takes place at half-past ten to inquire into the origin of the fire, the greatest that has yet been seen in Napier. We extract the following from the Herald : — A Provincial Gazette, published on Monday last, contains — proclamation by the Superintendent appointing a sale of sections in the Pohui, Tukuwaru and Eparaima bush, and rural sections at Motuotaraia and Wallingford ; and a second one, proclaiming a portion of the Ahuriri block open for public selection also, notification pf the resignation of John Tucker, Esq., as member of the Council for Waipukurau ;, tenders accepted and rejected for making bridge and road near Clive, supplying the Waipawa Courthouse with certain articles, aud making 7 chains of road in the Waipawa gorge ; return of cattle slaughtered-r-32 gieat cattle, 271 sheep, 10 pigs, — total, 313 ; return of exports coastwise, shewing an approximate value of £4,280, : for quarter ending 31st December; return of immigration and emigration for same period, the total numbers being — immigrants, 153 males, 70 females, emigrants, 162 males, 53 females; return of .the arrivals aud departures of vessels for the same period, the arrivals being 37 ( 1755 tons), departures 37 (1808 tons); comparative return of arrivals and departures during the years 1850 and 1861, the arrivals being— for 1860. 152 ships (11,345 tons), for 1861, 134 ships (7,634 tons); departures for 1860, 155 ships (12,598 tons), for 1861 143 ships (8,492 tons). The Church of England Bazaar was brought to a somewhat abrupt close by the necessity of preparing for the ball but it is intended, we learn, shortly to hold a supplementary sale, with the view of clearing off the articles remaining on hand. A sum of about £150 was realised on the first day, probably increased to £200 on the second. r Bank of New Zealand?— The plant of this establishment arrived from Auckland per Polestar. The arrival from Wellington of the new manager seems by some means to have been delayed, but he will doubtless arrive by next opportunity, when the operations of the banks will ootnmence. Earthquake. — A shock, somewhat severe, was experienced early on ;tha morning of Friday the 14th March. — Ibid. The Census. — Returns so far as this province is concerned, are now completed. The following is the return of population :— Males. Females.

1,667 944 Total, (exclusive of military) 2,611 -—Of the above number, that division of the province known as the electoral district of Clivehas 1134, and tbat as tha district of Napier, 1477. •Of the latter number, 924 reside in the town of Napier. The returns shew an inorease over, the census taken in April, 1860, by the Provincial Government, of 272 souls, lof whom 181 are resident in Napier. The increase is chiefly apparant in the column for children under 5 years of age. ;.-. Under the heads of place of birth, occupation, and religious denomination, there is no material difference since last leturns. In the first, however, 839. are set down as of New Zealand birth, which, was not provided for in the provincial form. Under the last, there are set down 4 Swedenborgians, 2 changeable^ LBttddhist, and several undeoided-«-evidenoeSf we presume, of practical joking.

Under 9-years 276 240. 6 & under 16 233 233 16 " 21 143 92 21 " 40 .... M ...778 296 40 " 55 195 69 55 " 65 40 : 13 65 & upwards 2 1