CANTERBURY.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 24 February 1865, Page 3

CANTERBURY.

DE STRUCTIVB FIRE. (Abridged from the Lyttelton Times , Feb. 8.) Yesterday, between 12 and 1 o’clock p.m., a fire broke out in the premises occupied by Mr Walters, cabinetmaker, in the Papauui Road'. The origin of the fire is at present unknown. The new steam fire-engine was quickly put into requisition, and taken to the river side near Victoria Bridge, in order to procure a sufficient supply of water. About eleven minutes elapsed before the steam could be got up, the hose being, in the meantime, laid down to the scene of the fire. By the time the engine was got into working order the flames had attained sued a mastery, that all hopes of saving Walters’ premises were abandoned. Only a few minutes elapsed before the house was totally consumed. About 1.10 p.m. the engine was got to work, and a pienli! til supply of water was thrown trora Jhe double pipes upon the burning house, the hose being taken up two streets. In the meanwhile, the flames had reached Mr Rutland’s house, by moans of the outbuildings. borne men had been engaged in spreading wet blankets upon the roof of Mr Rutland’s house. At the moment the flames burst out, a man named Hewseu was- engaged in this work, and was standing near the gutter on the roof of the house. Tiie spectators called loudly to him to jump off, which he did, and as he reached the ground, a burst of flame from the burning house enveloped him. As he had broken his wrist, and sustained other injuries, he was incapable of making any effort to extricate himself, when Constable Byrne and Mr T. Ollivier gallantly rushed‘through the flames to his rescue, and carried him from his perilous position to a place of safety. The sufferer was conveyed to the Hospital, and had his injuries attended to by Dr Dcamer. Byrne had bis face and throat severely scorched,- and Mr Oliivior did not escape unscathed. Too much praise cannot be awarded to them for their bravo rescue of a man from what must have been certain destruction.

Mr Rutland’s dwelling-house ami .workshops, with all their contents, turning lathes, &c., were entirely destroyed. -From this spot the flames reached the malt-house attached to the Phoenix Brewery, and from thence to the premises of Mr Price, a wheelwright, and Mr King, a blacksmith. These were entirely consumed. Unfortunately, all the last-named houses were shingled, so, from the moment that the flames readied the roofs their destruction was almost inevitable. About 1-45 p.m. the fire showed symptoms of abating, the flames were less fierce, and at 2 p.m. all danger might be said to bo at an end. The firemen worked manfully, and the volunteers of every company rendered valuable aid ; nor must the police be overlooked. What seemed to be wanting was a little more order or arrangement; willing hearts and strong active arms were there, but a directing ’head was wanting to bring tbe vast amount of goodwill and energy into thorough, practical organisation. THE SCENE AFTER THE FIRE. On visiting the spot after the fire had ceased, a sad scene presented itself. Where the houses had stood, nothing was to be seen but a mass of charred and blackened timber and heaps of debris. In the space between the houses had previously been growing some trees of considerable size; amongst others, a fine specimen of the native cabbage tree ; these were now- entirely scorched and blasted, the latter standing out in strange and desolate relief. i’he malt-house has been stripped of its roof, and the half-burnt malt contained in it exposed to view. Altogether, 1 lie scene is a painful one, exhibiting as i! does the rapid destruction caused by fire in wooden buildings when once it obtains the mastery, and also a melancholy instance of wasted energy and disappointed industry.

On Tuesday, the 2-fth ultimo, a man who had brought a horse from Nelson, via the Waiau, attempting to ford tlie Tcremakau at its mouth, although duly cautioned, was drowned. Both man and .horse were lost; the body of the man was found, but the horse has not yet been seen. A considerable amount of money was found,on his person, but what bis name was we are unable to learn. Sergt. Broham looked after his effects, and the man was interred at the Hurupa (native burying-grouneft at the Grey. He was an Irishman and a man of peculiar temperament; and it is pretty plain that the eccentricities of his nature amounted to possible aberration of intellect. Lyttelton exceedingly “Hard up.” —The Lyttelton folk very foolishly ran into debt in order to “ make a show ” in favor of the visit his Excellency didn’t pay the province. The Catiterbury Standard informs us that at the last meeting of the Municipal Council, when the subject of ways and means was brought on the carpet, the members had to undergo the severe mortification of having the whole of his Excellency’s affair gone into. The Town Clerk was instructed to write to

the Provincial Government asking them for the sura of £IOO promised towards the expenses of the Governor’s reception, .and we are also told that Mr Faithurst’s account of £lO3 for the same concern was ordered to be paid by a bill at three month’s date. We would humbly suggest to' his Excellency that he ought, as some compensation for his heartless! conduct, to meet this bill when it becomes due,"