DESTRUCTION OF THE VICTORIA HOTEL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 298, 17 August 1865, Page 3

DESTRUCTION OF THE VICTORIA HOTEL.

SIiOETLT after five o’clock this morning the inhabitants of Wellington were aroused by the ringing of the lire alarm bells. On turning out. for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of the alarm, we observed that flames wore issuing from the Victoria Hotel, situated in Abel Smith-street, Te Aro Elat, in the occupation of Mr R. Somerville. When we reached the scene there were but few persons on the spot, and those few were actively engaged in carrying from the building such articles of furniture as they could obtain. At this time the flames were entirely within the precincts of the stable, which was attached to (ho Hotel but it was evident that no human power could save the entire block of buildings from destruction. Fortunately there was but little wind at the time, and wbat there was drove the flames in a contrary direction from that on which the only houses likely to be endangered stood. However, the one occupied by a man named Lambert was so close to the burning pile to without the assistance of an engine, there was little prospect of its being saved, and the furniture and other property was removed. Before the fire caught a.linn hold of the Hotel, a good deal of the furniture and goods had been carried out by manyof the civilians who had assembled, and were placed at a safe distance from the fire. Jt is sufficient to say that the Hotel continued to burn fiercely, and that no incident of consequence occurred from the commencement to the end. —Advertiser, August 12.