FIRE. DESTRUCTION OF THE THISTLE INN

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2388, 14 July 1866, Page 4

FIRE. DESTRUCTION OF THE THISTLE INN

At an early hour on Sunday morning, the firebell was rung, and many of the citizens sprung from bed to ascertain where the danger existed* It was soon discovered that the Thistle Inn, at Pipitca Point, Thovndon, was in flames. Thefire was discovered shortly after five o'clock by a lodger in the house, who saw the gleam of the flumes against his bedroom window, and jumping up, at onae gave the alarm. Mrs. Cooper, the* wife of the proprietor of the Hotel, also made a similar discovery about the same time. The inmates were at onco aroused, and it was then discovered that a shed adjoining the houso wa9 in flame;?, and that the main building was in imrae» diato danger of catching. A few articles of clothing, furnifnre and, stock were got out of'the housebut at that moment littlo could be done to check tlio progress of the flame 3, and ere the engines arrived, the whole building was one glowing mass of" five. The first engine on the spot was theNorthorn, under the command of Captain Moss, and those belonging to the Now Zealand and Liverpool and London Companies soon followed. It was dead, low water, and when the engines were taken down t} the sea, the hose was found to be of insufficient length, 83 very little could be done at once to. extinguish the fire. Of course, a singlo engine was not sufficient in power to send the water up. with the necessary force ; but wo think that if the strongest of the engines had been taken to the water's edge, and the others arranged, in a line at equal distances, a pretty good stream of water would have been brought to bearon the burning house. Buckets, however, were in requisition, and water was poured on while sheets of iron and wet blankets were had in requisition to save the adjoining buildings from tho showerof sparks that fell in all directions. By pulling down a few sheds, the stables occupied by Mi\ Fawns were saved, but everything about th& yard was. destroyed. Fortunately there was scarcely any wind and by tho exertions of tho Brigado, aided by some of the parsons present, the adjoining ho;*so3 were saved. After a time the hose was got into working operation and a stream of water directed oiv the burning mass. Towards half-past six o'clock, the flames were partially extinguished. Members of the Brigade did what was possible under thecircumstances, and Mr. Nathan, of Messrs. Jacob/ Joseph & Co., supplied a pump and hand bucketsfrom his store, but we have no hesitation in saying, that had there been a strong broeze, tho destruction of property woidd have -been very seriou9. We understand that tho building was insured in tho Liverpool, London and Globe Office for £1000^ and the contents for £400.

Pkktcites of Next Zealand Scexkkx. — -3f.r«. ]N T . Ohovaliev, about whose sketches of New Zealand scenery so much has boon heard of late, was a passenger by the s.s. Phrebe, which arrivod here from t.he South on Saturday aftei'noon. Wo ur.«derstaud that he purposes staying in Wellington ibr some time, during \rhich ho will execute some paintings of the scenery of this province. Speak* hit; of the productions'of this artist, (he Li/tlelton Tunas, in a recent issue, remarks : — "By the courtesy of M. Chevalier, wo yesterday had the pleasure of newing thai; gentleman's drawings, in number about t yo or three hundred, which haTe bten obtained by htm during a tour of eight months in New Zealand ; and, whether looked upon as a perfect landscape history of different provinces, or as works of art, the result is equally b itisfactovy. -They embrace views of every point of interest in the Otago and Canterbury provincea; many of them are finished water-color sketche-, showing wonderful freedom and boldness of pencil, management of chiaroscuro and aerial perspective, and the geological character of the. country is preserved with the greatest minute--ness and fidelity, without having tho least approach to mannerism. Some very beautiful bits of scenery, which have struck tho artist as being highly picturesque, are in the form of finished drawings, showing how some of the mora important views wonld look, were they treated in the samo manner. If we selected any of tho drawings for preference, we should especially notice the views of Pigeon Bay, Akaroa, and Canterbury plains, as being moro familiar to us ; but the lake and mountain scenery is magnificent beyond anything we could possibly have imagined, and to those unacquainted with New Zealand, tho wonderful variety of tho subjects will at once astonish, and delight them. Wo are glad to hear that ifc is Mr. Chevalier's intention, previous to his de* parluire, to publicly exhibit the whole of his sketches in the Town Hall, or some other suitable place, so as to givo thosa whose taste has been, tutored, fresh food, and to the unpractised eye a series of studies which cannot fail to convey a greiit and lasting benefit." We understand that Mr. Chevalier intends to afford the public of Wellington an opportunity of viewing tho sketches which he recontly made of New Zealand seonery in Iho provinces of Otago and Canterbury. Av--rangoments are being made to have the sketches, exhibited at tho Odd Fellows' Hall, on Wednesd iy and Thursday, an .1 the public will be admitted fre ?.

The Panama Service —A very well informed correspondent of tho Lyltelton Times writos ;— < Tho intelligence from Sydney respecting the share to be taken by Now South Wales in the Paniuna contract is not aUojiothor satisfactory. It is mi« possible tliat (he Cxoyovnmont of thnfc colony should dispute the main point of their agreement or should even wic-h to do so; but there are minor points on which differences may occur, causing the contract Lo bo kept open. The secret motivo°at Iho bottom of tho present difficulty is, I believe, a desiro on tho part of Sydney to keep the terminus of the line positively and permanently there. But Oaptiin Benson and his family have come down here, and he has announced his intention of bringing the large ocean sfcenmors no farther than this port, and of employing branch, steamers to Sydney as well as Melbourne. Wellington, in his view, is the terminus of tho line, and hero, therefore, almost all the expenditure of the company will take place. Sydney suspect 3 something of this, and is said to be now holding back hor ultimate consent to the contract, with tho hope of arranging tho question of terminus in her own favor.

ExroßT op GrOLB. — The total amount of gold exported from New Zealand, from Ist April, 1857, to tho 31st March 1866, ia £2,528,183 ounces, rallied at £9,788,501.