THE LATE FIRE AT PATOKA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 557, 5 March 1868, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE AT PATOKA.

(Communicated.) The manuscript of the following went astray during its transit to us, which accounts for its late appearance. We consider, however, that it is still of sufficient interest to warrant its publication J£ U T 1 OctLUjJ, %v aipu.ua, 27th February, 1868. Ix is not often that one’s refreshing slumbers are disturbed by the direful cry of “ Fire ! fire! ” but thus it was that the members of the Armed Constabulary were awakened at 2.30 a.ra. on the morning of Tuesday last, never more to measure their length on the boards of Fatoka Stockade. The sentry when on his post first discovered that the building was ou fire, and according to orders, immediately alarmed the guard, who aroused the meu in the various quarters. There was at once a general turn out, and you might have seen officers and meu equally striving which could exert themselves the most in his endeavors to extinguish the flames. It proved of no avail—the east end of the building was speedily a mass of flames, which also communicated with the north end (the stables) and that too fell a victim to the devouring element. Axes, tether ropes, manual exertion, ' were all brought to bear on the burn- ‘ ing mass, but to no purpose. The ■ guard-room and the nou-commissioned ■ '■dicers’ quarters were reached by this < lime ; but happily the occupants, with | tiie assistance of their comrades, had secured their effects, and also some < Government property stored there. i The officers’ quarters were next 1 threatened with destruction ; but a 1 plentiful supply of water, with willing \ hands to work the buckets, happily , succeeded iu saving that part of the t building. It was admirable to see < officers and meu working with such a s will—iu fact, the chief participators \ were complimented upon their beha- i viour by the Commandaut, who was ' at the scene of conflagration shortly J alter the building was consumed. | Fins bids fair to test the character of ( the men of this force. Men who, disin- t terested, work well to save private ( property, will, wo trust, work well ' with their weapons of defence, should ‘ they be called upon, which I, as a 1 member of the Force, sincerely trust 1 may be the case at no very distant * date. Those of the famed No. 9, well ‘ backed, will, wo are sure, astonish , our colored friends, should they cross I their path. - The fire, you will see, has caused j us to make a shift since last I wrote ] to you. We are now located in a very pretty neighborhood, in close proxi- 1 uity to the Wuipuna Bush, and are 1 quartered for the most part in mai ] tuais, or huts built of flax and toi-toi, , ornamented in front with a colored i blanket, and the camp from the hill 1 opp site has rather a pretty appear- 1 auce. We are always open to visit- ' ors, who will be welcome to bush-fare, and a shake-down iu the most convenient quarters. The distance, I am ’ sure, debars any of the fair sex from | visiting us, but we have the satisfac- , tion of knowing that we are not for- , gotten by them, and this of itselfi should inspire us with fresh energy to 1 become efficient, and as we are for 1 the most part bachelors, we can at least fight for the “ hearts at home,” i in Napier or elsewhere. I must now 1 say Adieu until we meet again, and I ' trust you will excuse “ copy ” written , in pencil on more than one side of a ; foolscap sheet, which I know U equally ; an objection to compositor and editor Again vale, and be assured my motto 1 will ever be RUM VIVO SPERO.