OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 229, 20 February 1865, Page 2

OTAGO.

Our dates from this province extend to the Bth inst. From the Daily Times , we now give some additional particulars relating to the fire on that day. For the fourth time within a month, we have to record the occurrence of a serious fire in this, city. The alarm bell was rung this morning shortly before two o’clock —so that this present disaster originated almost precisely at the same time as that which a fortnight ago originated in the Exchange Hotel.

The flames had spread so quickly, that there was no difficulty on the part of those who first rushed into the streets, in discovering that the Octagon was the scene of the fire. By the time the persons who, except those residing in the immediate neighborhood, had got into the Octagon, there was a great body of flame streaming from the back part of the premises in which the fire commenced. That building was occupied as a bedding and furniture store; we believe by Mr Fellenburg. The heat, from Mr Fellenberg’s shop, was intense ; and the white glare of the fire lighted up the Octagon and the neighborhood, towards Princes street, the burning shop adjoined that occupied by Dr. Crawford, as a chemist and druggist ; while on the other side a space of only a few feet divided it from the Royal Oak Hotel, a small two-storey building. All the premises we shall have to mention were of wood. Between Mr-Fellenberg’s and the hotel, there was a substantial flight of steps; but the upper part of the hotel was ignited before the fire could make the woodwork of the steps a means of communication. '

Before the flames spread into the hotel they had caught Dr. Crawford’s shop, which had been very partially cleared; 'and they ran fiercely through this place, a great mass of black smoke bursting forth, only to be followed by the flames. The great danger was from the first on the Princes-street side. Only a house occupied by Dr. Burns, surgeon, stood between Dr. Crawford’s and the Victorian Hotel of Mr Guy Bennett, a well known place, fronting both to the Octagon and Princess-street. We believe, that Mr Bennett was fortunate enough to save his cash box, books, and some valuable paintings. But the firemen and others who were engaged in saving property here had to retreat hastily. For the flames soon rushed through Dr. Burns’s bouse and swept into the hotel, which in less than five minutes was one great mass of fire. On the Stuart street side of the Royal Oak Hotel, there stood three one-storey shops, but before the fire got a strong hold of them, the Fire Brigade had pulled down a cottage which adjoined them, and which, if it had been allowed to stand, would certainly have caught and communicated the flames to the extensive two-storey building of Mr Geddes, undertaker, which fronts Stuart street. The cottage once down, this building was safe.

There was no further danger on that side, for there is a gap unbuilt upon in Stuart-street. In® Princes-street, when the Victorian Hotel was thoroughly a-blaze, it was evident that all between jt and Cooper’s Family Hotel, must be destroyed. There was, however, a much more threatening danger. Waters’s Octagon Hotel, at the corner of Princes-street and the Octagon, opposite the Victorian, smoked freely, and the asphalts pavement in front of it melted and seemed about to blaze. The adjoining premises were also in very great danger. But some members of the Brigade got to the top of this hotel with blankets and water ; and an engine, which by this time had been got to work, was played upon its front. The opposite side of I’rinces-street was strewn witlpfurniture and portions of Mr Wilson’s stock ; and it seemed probable that those would become ignited, and so set Are to the already fiercely smoking buildings. But some of the furniture was dragged away, water from buckets was poured upon other portions, and an engine was kept at work upon the front of the buildings. There was most fortunately an unoccupied section next the hotel; but it was only after a hard fight that the flames were kept from crossing it to the pianoforte, warehouse of Mr C. Begg. We have now, we are happy to say, indicated the limits of the conflagration. There was a groat body of flame, and plenty of work for the Brigade and the Police,- but with the destruction of the cottage on the Stuart-street side, and the heating hack of the flames from Mr Begg’s, danger was ended. The following is the most correct list we have been able to make of the premises destroyed FROM EEIXENBEEO’s TO STUART-STREET. Fellenberg and Ferceau, upholsterers and mattress makers. M. Fleming, hay and corn store. Thomas Martin, Royal Oak Hotel. Three small shops, occupied as dwelling-houses. House at corner pulled down, which prevented the fire spreading to Geddes, undertaker. ' FROM FELDENBEEG’3 TOWARDS PRINCES-STREET. J. R: Crawford, chemist, in front of which was a pdst-office receiving box. Robert Burns, surgeon. Guy Bennett’s Victorian Hotel. PRINCES-STREET. Madame De Courtet, modiste. Andrew S. Wilson, chemist and druggist. Mrs Alpenny, milk shop, lately a registry office. Mrs Cooper’s Family Hotel. Two cash boxes were brought from some of the burning places and handed to the police. One man, who stripped to work, is said to have- lost his sac coat, containing £B7 ; but we should hope the loss will be only temporary. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire. The Volunteer Fire Brigade worked most arduously ; but there seemed to bo, at firsts more than the usual difficulty in getting water. The J3team Fire Engine was brought to the spot, with its steam up and its whistle sounding, about half an hour after the alarm was given, we are informed that Mr Hodgson sent repeatedly to the Brigade for a cask of water, for the purpose of supplying the boiler; but that, as no water could be procured, he was compelled to blow off steam to prevent an explosion. We are assured that now (4,55) the engine is at work on the Jetty, and supplying water for two jets which are being played on the fire. . The whole of the properly enumerated above was wholly destroyed considerably within an hour. It is again to be most thankfully recorded that there was scarcely a breath of wind. The slightest favoring breeze must have led to the ignition of Waters’s Hotel, and then there would have' been little chance ol the staying of the fire until the whole block, up to and including the Criterion Hotel, had disappeared. .

American Ladies. —Mr Sala writes -.—Lately I heard a pretty story of a married lady, whose papa had sent her cheque for a handsome amount as a birth-day present, and who very affectionately and dutifully gave it to her husband. “I just endorsed the cheque,” quoth the lady, and handed it over to him. How many English ladies are there, married or single, who know anything about endorsing cheques. If they did know something concerning their own financial interests it would be much the better for them, whatever utilitarians and advocates of woman’s rights may argue.