SOUTHLAND.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 207, 30 December 1864, Page 3

SOUTHLAND.

ANOTHER GREAT EIRE. (From the SoiUidcui Times.) It is with deep regret that wo have to chronicle another extensive fire in Invercargill. At about half-past fou", on Friday, the 9th inst., the inhabitants of the town were alarmed by the ringing of the large be'l belonging to Mr. B'nuey the auctioneer. ; The flames were first observed issuing from the premises in the occupation of Mr. L. Myers, tobacconist, : n the upper story of which were the offices of the Liverpool and London Fire and Life Insurance Company. Almost immediately afterwards Mr. Roebuck's Empire Hotel was also observed to be on fire, and although the morning was very cahr, it was apparent that nothing could prevent the destruction of every building between it and the south end of the block. The lately formed fire brigade were quickly on the spot, and a detachmcn of police under Mr. Commissioner Weldon. Greet fears were entertained that all the inmates of the various bouses would not" succeed in making their escape, for notwithstanding the almost total absence of wind, the fire spread with wonderful rapidity. We are gird to be able to state that this calamity 1 wrs averted, though some escaped with barely clothes sufficient to cover Uiera. ’ A very large crowd coUected in a few minutes, and the most strenuous exertions were made tq save the stocks and the furniture of the buildings to the south of Myers. From the Empire Hoieh and horn Mr. Myers, the tobacconist, nothin'; was saved. The nest building which caught was'the boot store belonging to Mr. O’Hara, a small quantity of the stock having been p”eviously got out. The adjoining buildhig was the Southern tfross Hotel, kept by Mr. T. Wright. The fixtures in the bar, a part of the stock, and bedding and furniture were saved, but before the whole could be removed tins fine hotel was enveloped, in dense clouds of black smoke, which ere long burnt into a ma n 'U'fieent sheet ot'llamo. The Southern Cross Hotel was the corner building, but the Tire attacked t'<o buildhig to the right, in Don street, in which W. Chandler eatried on the business of boot-maker. A considerable slock was on the premises ; a large p"oportion of it was, however, destroyed. From Chandler’s to the premises of Mr. H. T. Ross, wine and spirit merchant, the th’e spread with lightning speed. Mr. Ross succeeded in rescuing a groat portion of his slock. Last of all, the store of Mr. IT. E: Osborne, general dealer, wrs destroyed. At this point a gap occurred, and a line of buckets having been established and worked by a large number of willing hands, the side of the next house, in the occupation of Mj\ Truce, working jeweller, was kept su Tciently wet and cool to preserve it intact. At the tmie when tins mass of buildings was all on fi’’e the spectacle presented was'one of surpassing gumdeur. Far above the highest houses the volumes of dense black smoke rolled upwards. Intermingled with vast jet? of lurid flame, changing as it obtained complete mastery over the inflammable materials which fed it, to the most dazThig brightness, whilst the crash of falling timber and breaking glass, and the hoarse voices of the men vainly endeavoring to stay the progress of the conflagration added to Hie horror of the pietuio. Although Dee street is two chains wide, the heat on the opposite side was intense, and the most-strenuous exertions were necessary to save the Prineb of Wales Hotel, directly facing the burning-block A fair supply of water was at hand, and by covering the front of the juiilding with wet blankets, it remained unscathed, the white steam rising in clouds above the roof. From the time that the first alarm was given, until the danger was completely, overcome, scarce three-quarters of an hour cjapsctl. Wo never witnessed a fire where there .wrs loss coi iusion, or more alacrity on live part of spectators to’ render hearty assistance. Every praise is due to the newly-formed Fire Brigade. Roth,.officers and men worked .splendidly, and gave evidence that with proper appliances at hand their efficiency could not possibly be surpassed. We particularly noticed Captain M’Culloch and Mr. Reese, who directed the movements of a largo body of mep. Most unfortunately the fire engine was undergoing repaii s, and was therefore rot brought on the ground. The police, under Mr. Commissioner Weldon, are also entitled to the warmest thanks of the commi’U'ty for their almost superhuman exertions in quell’ng a fire which, on account qf the locality, threatened to be the most serious wo‘ have yet bad to record. Sergeant Chapman was pai icularly active. Amongst private individuals present who rendered the most valuable assistance, ■ we may mention the names of I)f. Menzies and I.' Jf. Watt, Esq., R.M. of Campbelltovv v. Had a

breeze sprang up, nothing short of a miracle could have saved the larger half of the business portion of Invercargill. We are unable to give full particulars as to the loss sustained, but the following statement approximates to the amount of insurance on the various buildings and stocks :—W. Roebuck,'Empire Hotel, £300; L. Myers, tobacconist, &e., £900; Mr. O’Hara, boot store, loss not known ; T. Wright, Southern Cross Hotel, £(>3o; Mr. Chandler, bootmaker, £200; 11. T. Rose, wine and spirit merchant, £IOOO. A rough frtimale of the total loss is about £7OOO.