BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 2936, 17 July 1872, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

(FROM GREVILLF.'s TELEGRAM COMPANY.)

THE SHORTLAND FIRE. Auckland, July 16, 2.42 p.m.

Mr J. Perston, secretary of the Kanaeranga Road Board, committed suicide last evening. He blew his brains out with a rifle. The Board sat in an adjoining room, and did not know of it. He was short in the Board’s cash about LGO.

A meeting of the .Shortland people re tho fire, was called for two o’clock at Butt’s Theatre, by Mr Mac Donald, solicitor. It transpired that no one was insured. A fire brigade for Shot Hand is on the tapis. The lire broke out in Pollen street, Shortland, this morning, and destroyed more than half the north side of the section of tho street between Will mghby street and Grey street. The fire apparently originated in a building used as a bowling alley, near the Melbourne Hotel. A few minutes after the first alarm, which was given about two o’clock, all the ranges were illuminated. A great crowd had assembled in the

streets, and the inhabitants of the houses in the greatest danger got out in their night drosses, and saved almost nothing. Those further r-moved from the lire worked ha d to save their furniture. The merchandise from the various stores in a few minutes formed a continuous pile that stretched along the length of the street. A determined a tempt was made to save tho near houses on the opposite side to the (ire, by pulling down the shop of Knight the TnPchcr, Axes were strongly plied but the timber was slow to yield. A rope was then obtained, and the building pulled piecemeal into the middle of the street. The wind blowing from the north-west, carried the flames towards the sea. On the Grey street end the critical point was to save the building formerly occupied by the Bank of New Zealand. The fire burned very fiercely at the shop next to it, but some young fellows climbed on the roof, and buckets were passed up from two large tanks, and the battle with the Haines determinedly won. The whole of the west side of the street from the Bank of New Zealand on the south, to the Black Forest butchery on the north, was literally reduced to ashes. The following houses were consumed:—Two or three belonging to Mr Driver ; the house in which Mr Macgregor, solicitor, formerly had an office; Harrison’s Melbourne hoarding house; Mart’s boot shop and house adjoining, also liU property ; Mr Whitehead’s house ; Hale’s shop; Hurley’s boot shop and dwelling house ; Bowling Alley, together with Blundell’s 'watchmaker’s shop ; Blundell’s dwelling house adjoining the Bowling Alley; Grant, painter’s shop and dwelling house ; Mrs Ritchie’s two houses, and Gerrish’s oyster saloon. The damage is heavy, and will prove fearfully trying on several poor people whoso all was comprised in their shops and establishments. The men from the Crown Company rondeled valuable assistance.

3.18 p.m. The Caledonian claim is looking splendid. .Sevt ral more specimens are to hand. Buyers offer L 35. 2.53 pm. In the divorce case of Overton v. Overton, a dissolution was granted on the ground of adultery and cruelty. Wellington, July 17, 11 a.m. Owing to another case of small-pox having broken out yesterday, the Government intend setting apart a building in a secluded position for persons suspected of having the small-pox. The s.s. Tararna sailed last night for Lyttelton. 1,10 p.m. Mrs Hodman, the mother of the infected child, reported yesterday, is also infected with small-pox. The husband has been working in a butcher’s shop up to yesterday afternoon, and attending the family at night. All the family are to be sent to Soamcs Island to-day. Wanganui, July 12. Tracey, an old soldier, who was wounded at Turoturo-Mokuu, was found in his bed this morning with his throat cut, and his abdomen ripped open. He was removed to the. hospital, hut is not expected to recover. The public hero arc excited on account of the small-pox, The Resident Magistrate has telegraphed to the Government for authority to form a Board of Health. Ckomwkll, July 17. 3.42 p.m. At the Mayoralty nomination to day tho following were proposed : Mr James^ Taylor, proposed by Mr M'Kellar, schoo master, seconded by Mr Pierce, butcher. Mr Michael Fraer, proposed by Mr Grant, builder, seconded by Mr Brown, merchant. The contest will be keen, though the chances are in favor of Mr Fraer. The candidates spoke for over two hours.