CHRISTCHURCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3482, 4 September 1882, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH.

September 4,

A fire occurred in High-street this morning, which made a clearance of some of the buildings which have long been an eyesore in the centre of the city. The fire commenced shortly after midnight in a Bhop occupied by the Learned Pig and Armless Lady next King's furniture shop, and nearly oppoeite Strange and Co.'s, drapers. The fire originated in the back of the premises, which half an hour before the alarm shewed not the slightest symptoms of fire. Efforts were made to rescue the Learned Pig, which was in the front part of the premises, but without avail, and it was roasted alive. The fire rapidly spread southwards, where the buildings were very old and of a very inflammable character. The progress of the flames northward was much slower, owing to King's furniture warehouse being plastered inside. The Fire Brigade were very early at work, but before the flames were extinguised the following buildings were destroyed :—On the south side tbe shops occupied by Doherty, tobacconist, and Madame Lottie Wilmot; the shop occupied by Mr Crocker, draper, prevented the flames extending further in this direction ; on the north side the back premises of King's furniture warehouse and Hulbert's hat manufactory were destroyed. The stock in King's and Crocker's stops, and part of that in Hulbert's shop, was removed in safety, as also that in the shops destroyed, with the exception of the Learned Pig. The origin of the fire is a mystery. All the shops destroyed were the property of Mr C. 11. Brown, of Nelson. Tnree hours elapsed before the fire was completely extinguished. The insurances are not yet known. The value of the buildings destroyed is comparatively trifling. The chemical fire engine for the Fire Brigade waß brought through from the port to Christchurch on Saturday. A row occurred at the Theatre Royal on Saturday night. The London Comedy Company (J. Wilkinson, Amy Johns, and Co.) were announced to give a performance, and a small audience assembled. Shortly after 8 o'clock Wilkinson announced that Beatty, the proprietor of tbe theatre, had seized all the money received at the doors, and there would therefore be no performance. A great row ensued. Beatty promised to return the money at the door, and, after doing this to the people in the stalls and circle, he found he had only 12s left for upwards of sixty people in the pit, and it was thus apparent that the people must have rushed in during the row without paying. Beatty declined to make up the balance, and the people would not leave without their money. Great noise and impromptu singing and dancing was indulged in, and the police could not get the theatre clear till after midnight. When the people did leave a free fight occurred in front of the theatre, and two men were arrested. Kerr's American trotters were offered at auction, by Matson and Co., on Saturday. All were passed in — Irrington at 800 guineas and Bill Allen at 000 guineas.