THE TOWN IN RUINS.

Auckland Star, Volume I, Issue 253, 31 October 1870, Page 2

THE TOWN IN RUINS.

THE BANK OF NEW ZEALAND, EIGHT HOTELS, AND THIRTY-FIVE STORES BURNT TO THE GROUND.

LIST OF BUILDINGS DESTROYED

FAMILIES LEFT HOUSELESS

CHRISTCHURCH DESERTED

SUBSCRIPTION LISTS OPENED FOR

THE DESTITUTE

CHRISTCHURCH.

October 25, 8.15 a.m. —A most disastrous fire occurred in Lyttelton last night, raging for upwards of four hours. The entire block of buildings bounded by London-street^, Oxford street, Canterbury-street, and ; Norwich Quay, was destroyed. Two-thirds of the town has been laid in ruins, and a large number of families are rendered houseless. —The Christchurch steam fire engine was conveyed to Lyttelton by special train, and greatly assisted to stop the fire.—All the butchers' and bakers' shops are destroyed, and food had to be sent from Christchurch this morning.— The estimated loss is £100,000.—The cause of the fire is unknown.

4.8 p.m.—The fire was first discovered in an empty house adjoining the Queen's Hotel, then crossed to the other side of Londonstreet ; thus both sides of London-street were in flames from the corner of London aud Oxford-streets, swept down Oxford-street, destroying the stores of Messrs. DxansQeld and Hawkins, the Times Office, Canterbury Hotel, and thence continued to rage along Newcastle Quay, destroying Dalgethy's bond and warehouse, which were filled with , wheat and spirits. All the intermediate shops to Leslie's Saxon Hotel fell one by one. The fire caught rear of several private houses, which were all destroyed. In a few minutes the stores of Cameron Bros., Taylor and Co., and the Robin Hood Hotel, caught, thus completing a circuit of the block. In London-street the fire was still progressing, destroying private and public buildings. Christ-chui-ch Fire Brigade arrived by special train at one o'clock, when Lyttelton appeared one mass of fire. Brigade's efforts were directed to save the Mitre Hotel, and succeeded in stopping its progress, which otherwise would have taken the whole block eastward. Meantime, a larac store on the seaward side of. Norwich Quay caught fire, aftd was soon one ma-s of flames. Two-thirds of the town of Lyttelton is absolutely cleaned of buildings, domprising an area of four or five acres. The whole of Christchurch is empty to-day : all gone to Lyttelton; subscriptions aro being raised ; food forwarded to port. The following is a list of buildings destroyed : —London-street: Queen's Hotel; Mr. Cathro. bootmaker; Mr. Hunter, grocer ; Mr. Webb, greengrocer; Mr. Fisher's ' dwelling-house j Mrs. Burt, stationer; Miss Wade, confectioner; Mr. Culliford, butcher ; Dr. Rou<<e, dwelling house; Mr. T. Merson, storekeeper; Shades, Hotel; Mr. Pit caithley, butcher; Bank of New Zealand ; Mr. Bunker, storekeeper; Mr. Ayers, hairdressers Mr. Ellisdon, druggist; -ir. Walker, bootmaker ; Mr. George Lewis, storekeeper ; Mr. Percy, bootmaker; Mr. McDonald, tailor; Mrs. Arthur, greengrocer; Mrs. Spairey, greengrocer ; Mr. Kassiter, watchmaker ; Kailway Hotel. Oxford street.—Mr. Dransfield's store, Lyttelton Times office, Mr. E. Recce's store, and the Victoria Dining Rooms. Norwich Quay.—Canterbury Hotel, Mr. Forbes' store. The Post Office and the Telegraph Office were gutted. Hargreave's store was gutted; Hey wood's store, Robinson's Leslie's Hotel, Parkinson, butcher; Mrs. Robinson, confectioner; Cameron Brothers, drapers; Heron, storekeeper j and Robin Hood Hotel.