BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2360, 25 October 1870, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(from greville’s telegram company, recter’s agents.) Christchurch, October 25. It is rumoured that the new Government will consist of Messrs Kenneway, Cox, Toswill, and CWlishaw. Mr Kenneway as Provincial Secretary and Mr Cowlishaw as Provincial Solicitor. Official notification of the appointments will be made at to-night’s sitting of the Council. There are several candidates for the Hon. G. C. Lee’s seat in the Council. Mr Lee resigned, having filed a declaration of insolvency.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT LYTTLETON. A fire the most disastrous ever occurred in New Zealand took place last evening in Lyttelton, at 10 30 p.m. The fire commenced at the Queen’s Hotel, and rapid y swept over the whole block of tluee acres in area, destroying nearly one hundred houses. Many families are left entirely destitute. The Mayor of Christchurch sent a special train through after some delay caused by the telegraph operator at Christchurch having left the office, and through the total paralisation of the people of Lyttelton. The train took the steam lire-engine and Fire Brigade together, with the hook and ladder company and Fire Police. On reaching Lyttelton, the Brigade found two-thirds of the town burnt down, but actively setting to work, succeeded in checking it in two hours and forty minutes. A strong N.E. wind was blowing at the time. The amount of loss is estimated at about LIOO,OOO ; insurances cover L23,0(f0. The ruins have been visited by hundreds of people, the trains being full. The fire is not yet quite extinguished, and the Christchurch brigade remains on the spot. It is not known how thq.-fire originated, but it is rumored that rather suspicious circumstances surround its origin.