WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 220, 30 January 1865, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

Naeeow Escape prom Fiee.—The Wellington Independent of tho 19th gives the following account of a narrow escape from fire to the stores of Mr. W. Lyon:—Yesterday morning, about 12 o’clock, some portion of the premises occupied by Mr. W. Lyon, bookseller, Lambton Quay, was discovered to be on fire. It appears that a gentleman who happened to be in the shop in the morning, noticed a peculiar smell, and remarked it to Mr. Ramsay, who was in charge. This circumstance excited the suspicion of that gentleman, -who immediately looked round the premises, and discovered smoke issuing from a crevice in the weather-boarding of a back store. With praiseworthy promptitude, instead of opening the door of the store, he immediately sought for assistance, and then proceeded to the Liverpool and London Office for the engine, which was on the ground in an incredibly short space of time. On the door being opened, it was discovered that several bags of “sweepings” had become ignited, and were blazing up, the side of the building also having caught fire. By the assistance of several neighbours the flames were speedily subdued, and the .services of the engine fortunately not required.

The cause of ignition is unknown, nor can any conjecture be made, as the building had only been opened once in the morning, and then only for a moment to allow the errand boy to get out a bag for some purpose. Had the fire gained an ascendancy, it would be impossible to say where it would have stopped, as the wind was excessively high at the time.—Another fire occurred early in the morning of yesterday under somewhat suspicious circumstances. The watchman alleges that when going his rounds in the neighborhood of Mr G. H. Yennell’s store he found there was a strong smell of fire, and upon examining the place he found a large heap of straw and rubbish blazing in the yard attached to the store in question. He states that he at once obtained a bucket and some water, and experienced little difficulty in extinguishing the flames.

Me. Baeeaud’s Paintings. —The correspondent of the Lyttelton Times thus refers to the paintings forwarded to the Exhibition at Otago by Mr C. D. Barraud, of this city :—Next to Mr Gully, as a local artist, must be ranked Mr Barraud, of Wellington, who, like the former gentleman, appears to have made water-color painting of New Zealand scenery and subjects a settled study, and so far to have emerged from the ranks of the mere amateurs. His contributions, which are numerous, comprise several spirited paintings, which deserve more detailed notice than I can give them. He has less delicacy of touch than Mr Gully ; but there is a force and objective character about them which to some extent compensates for the comparative want of finish. I believe that many of Mrßarraud’s works exhibited here are secured, or sought for, already.— New Zealand, Advertiser.