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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XIII, Issue 584, 8 June 1868, Page 2

Great Fiee at Mkleoerse. —The largest fire by which Melbourne lias been visited for many years, occurred there on the 18th May, on the premises of Messrs Halstead & Kerr (known as the Albion Steam Saw-mills,) situated at the corner of Elizabeth 1 and A’Beckett-strects, and ex tending at the rear os far as Franklinstreet. Before the flames were checked a very large amount of damage was done, (he amount of which had not been positively ascertained. In a few of the buildings the loss amounted to £15,000.

Fatal Accident.— A shocking accident has occurred at Lyttelton, to the family of U man named Camobell. From the stateI,r h A , imencoi tue man, ii appears that two ol jhis children were ill; his wife, who is sub!ject to epileptic fits, was in an adjoining jroom nursing the youngest. He himseil [fell asleep beside one of the children, and [was awoke soon afterwards by hearing fearful groaning; jumping out of bed, he found his wife on the floor in flames, and the infant in her arms. Ho tore olf the burning clothes as soon as possible, burn’ppg h:s own Ihilids terribly. T)pa Ivouse and Mottley were soon in attendance, and did all they could. Hr Donald also visited the sufferers. The child expired st noon. and the mother is not likely to survive*

THE KEWS FEOil THE NORTH. The s.s. Wellington from Auckland arrived in port last evening, bringing dates to the sth inst. Lady Bowen and the lion. Colonel Haultain were passengers by this opportunity. The news from the several gold-fields continues encouraging. A rush to- - * Kennedy’s Bay. had set in from Opotiki. The discovery of gold at Papatoitoi, Kaipsra, Wads, Raglan, and other parts of the Province is reported. The Raglan “ find,” however, has turned out to be crystalised carbonate of lime. A valuable kerosine spring has been discovered at the head of the WaitemaH. The schooner Blue Bell (wellknown in Napier) was totally wrecked *■ off Flat Rock, near Wangaroa on the 23rd May. All hands saved. Sir George Arney had arrived at Auckland. A dinner was to be given to him, to take place on Tuesday (to morrow.) Mr Whitaker will probably occupy the chair. Mr E. B. Gilmore, while crossing Uawa (Tologa Bay) in a emoe, was - accidentally drowned. His body was recovered an hour after the sad event. The absconder Kirkwood, of Onehunga, who duped his creditors to the extent of some £ 20,000, lias turned up at last. The schooner Stanley, with which he left this Colony, has been seized at a place called Hiago, near Yokohama, Japan ; but as no instructions had been received there to make a prisoner of Kirkwood, nothing could lie done in the matter. “ The Stanley,” says the New Zealand Herald, “is now in possession of the mortgagee, Mr C. Davis, and it is probable she may soon return to her native waters with a cargo of eastern produce.”

The news from Opotiki is far from satisfactory. The expedition which started on the 29th April, returned on the 10th May. They h '.d not met with a single rebel, —had undergone innumerable privations, such as scarcity of provisions, &c.—and, as a grand finale, on their return to camp, we are told that many of the men were immediately struck off. pay ! Now, by our latest dates, we note that another expedition is about to start for the inteinterior of the Urivvera country, the destination being a considerable distance behind Opotiki; and we anxiously await the issue. With reference to the Kawakawa coal mines, the Herald, of the sth •June, says:—“ We are glad to learn that the brig Rita has been engaged to fill up with coal at the Bay of Islands for Tahiti. This will be the first shipment that has been made from the Bay for a foreign port, and will no doubt be shortly followed by others. The Ellesmere and other vessels will immediately proceed to the Bay, in order to load coal for the Southern ports.”

The New Zealand Herald says :—■ We have received a communication from a gentleman who has been making a tour of Waiuku, Tuakau, and the adjacent country. He reports that rapid progress is being made in payable flax-dressing ; that the greatest confidence prevails amongst those employed upon the new industry. He says that good hands are in some places earning as much as seven shillings a day. That there was an abundant store of wealth in this indigenous plant never was doubted the only question was, whether it would return a profit for the care and trouble bestowed upon it.