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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 649, 21 January 1869, Page 2

Captain Fatiquiiar.—Wo have been informed on what ouirht to bo good au thority that the difficulties that have arisen out of the arrest of Captain Furquharhavp been amicably settled, and that no further proceedings will bo taken in either of the two cross" actions that have been commenced.— Dai ! y Southern Crosq.

Shipment op Gold prom Auckland.— We take the following from the New Zealand Herald, llth January :—" The Siam, which sails for London this d*y with a full cargo of colonial produce, takes with her also 2,000 pounds weight, or nearly a ton of gold, a portion of the produce of the last ten weeks' work at the Thames. Ah the New Zealand Bank is not sending its gold by this vessel, there will, we understand, "be from 6,000 to 10,000 ounces obtained during the same period remaining unshipped."

liarrow Escape prom Fire at Auckland. —We take the following from the New Zealand Herald, 11 ih January : On Saturday afternoon a fire was providentially discovered in time to prevent much mischief. From enquiries made we learn that about three o'clock symptoms of fire were noticed in the store of Mr Gr. W. Owen, nest the Waitemata Hotel, in Queen-street, and on search being made it was found to proceed from the upper storey, where a quantity of paper was stowed Prompt measures were at once taken, and the fire extinguished. The supposition is that the rats had got into a case of vestas, and by gnawing at them had produced ignition. Had this fire not been discovered in time one of the finest blocks of brick buildings in the city of Auckland would have been burnt to the ground. As it is, goods to the extent of £SO or £63, principally paper, are destroyed or damaged, either by the fire or the water used to extinguish it. This occurrence would suggest that more than ordinary precaution should be taken in the storing of lucifer matches. Since the invention of lucifers it is well known that the risk of fire has been enormously increased, and double the number of houses have been destroyed owing entirely to neglect of caution in handling, Jighting, or extinguishing lucifer matches. There is danger in storing matches which have not greater protection than the flimsy paper boxes which are so largely empl jyed. This case is a proof of their inadequacy, pud oa-es aro known where the London offices have disputed their liability for insurance, owing to wilful and culpable neglect in the manner of storing these dangerous compounds. That rats fchould hare been able to eat into those cases and so the destruction of a block of valuable buildings, k a danger that should at once be looked to by UiQrfe concerned,