Telegraphic Intelligence.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 850, 25 October 1870, Page 2

Telegraphic Intelligence.

From Greville & Co.'s Telegram Company, (Reuter's Agents)

WELLINGTON,

Tuesday, October 25. A disastrous fire occurred at Lyttelton last night, by which two-thirds of the town was destroyed. The fire raged fiercely for four hours, the efforts of the inhabitants being ineffectual to arrest its progress. The Christchurch Fire Brigade, who were taken to the spot in a special train, succeeded, after some time, in extinguishing the flames. A whole block, three acres in extent, is a mass of ruin«. Hundreds of families by this calamity are rendered homeless. The loss is estimated at one hundred thousand pound? (£100,000.) The Mayor of Christchurch is sending provisions to the townspeople, the bakers' and butchers' shops being destroyed. Captain Wheeler, of the s.s. Taranaki, was very conspicuous in his endeavors to assist. The houses which escaped were opened for the reception of those who were burnt out A subscription list, for the relief of the sufferers, is to be opened at once. Dining the lire, the scene was grand and terrific, the harbor and hills being lighted up by the v ast mass of flan.e from the burning buildings. The Bank of New Zealand, four public houses, and large numbers of shops, stores, private house-;, offices, &c, are destroyed. The fire is still burning.