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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 437, 12 November 1866, Page 4

LATEST TELEGRAMS. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CHRISTCHURCH. £30,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED. £14,000 WORTH INSURED. (By Submarine and Inter-provincial Telegraph.) Christchurch, Tuesday. 10 a.m. A very large fire broke out this morning at 5 o’clock, by which several stores have been destroyed, including. Cookham House and Golden Fleece Hotel. The damage is estimated at £30,000. The fire originated on the premises of Mr Eoach, tobacconist, Colombo-street, and extended rapidly both ways, scouring the block of buildings from the Golden Fleece, Armagh-street, to Cookham House, Colombostreet. 3 p.m. The conflagration is over, and much damage has been done, although there is but little wind. The fire engines, worked by both steam and hand, were on the ground twenty minutes after the alarm was given. The following houses have been completely destroyed:— Campion’s Golden Fleece Hotel. Eoach’s cigar and billiard-rooms. Bayley’s bakery and provision store. Treleaven’s corn store, and some unoccupied shops in Armagh-street. The upper story of Cookham bouse is completely gutted, but the lower portion fortunately remains uninjured, though a building immediately in the rear used as a store is also consumed. That the conflagration has not spread still further, and done incalculable damage, is due no doubt the fact of Cookham House being built of brick. Messrs Betbune & Hunter have ascertained by telegraph that the loss sustained by the New Zealand Insurance Company only amounts to £2,500; other offices, £11,500.

LATEST FROM THE FRONT. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SKIRMISH. (From tlio Advertiser, ITtli November.) The latest despatches from Ills Excellency the Governor to his Ministers are dated the 30th of October, and we are indebted to the courtesy of the Hon. the Colonial Secretary for being able to lay before our readers an account of a successful expedition into the . hush made by Major M‘Donneli and his force, in which they again completely routed the rebels. At two o’clock on the morning of the 29th ultimo, the force marched on a village belonging to Akitana, named Papaia, about six miles inland. Near the village the force fell in with a strong stockade formed across the road, and defended by a large party of rebels. Our troops charged and carried the possition with great gallantry. In the attack a trooper of the Wanganui Cavalry, named Hanley, was killed, and, a native named Panata, belonging to the Wanganui Militia, was slightly wounded. On the side of the rebels, the chief Araraa Karaka was •killed, and three other natives wounded. Akitana is the man who some time ago laid an ambuscade for Major M'Donnell, and fired on him and bis escort. It will be recollected by our readers that this ambuscade was the principal cause of Major M'Donnell’s expedition to ICetemarae. It was also Akitana’s people who laid the ambuscade in which a trooper on escort was shot down and tomahawked. There is great pleasure in learning, therefore, that they are now meeting their deserts. ' Major M‘Donnell sprained his ancle, but will soon be fit for service again. Captain M'Donnell is recovering. (From fh.o Wanganui Times, 2nd November.) A battle has been fought, and the rebel stronghold of Keteonatera taken, with the loss of two killed on our side. We are in hourly expectation of full particulars. Some companies of the 18th Royal Irish, under Major Eocke, took part in the engagement. We are told that his Excellency the Governor has determined to carry out the “ unconditional surrender or fight-it-out policy ” in its integrity. He also purposes visiting Taupo previous to his departure for Kawau. The forces now in the Patea district are sufficient to carry out all the objects which his Excellency has in view, - Lieut. Gudgeon, with about 180 Kupapas, left for Patea by the p.s.-Sturt-on Tuesday last, but we doubt if their services will be required in the Patea district. When news reached town of Captain M'Donnell being wounded, and the Governor pending for reinforcements. Captain Ross, though still suffering from his wound, prepared to start for the Front,. With his