Hawkes's Bay Times Nullius addictus jurare in verba magist THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 21 FIRE, THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1486, 21 November 1872, Page 2

Hawkes's Bay Times Nullius addictus jurare in verba magist THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 21 FIRE, THE AUCKLAND FIRE.

The disastrous firo in Auckland, reported in our telegraphic intelligence yesterday, should act as a warning to the people of Napier to take some pre cautionary measures against the veiy probable contingency of an outbreak of lire in some of the closely-built portions of our town. It is to be regretted that any agitation on this subject has generally been identified with and made subservient to an ulterior motive—the establishment of a municipality—to the fulfilment of which object the majority of the townspeople, tor good and sufficient reasons, are strongly opposed. The facts are clear that in Napier, built as it is entirely of wood, a tire in the business portion of the to<vn would be scarcely less destructive than that which occurred in Auckland yesterday; and further, that the town is wretchedly deficient in the means of quelling a conflagration, should one arise. The risk increases daily, and the necessity of prompt precautionary measures be comes each day proportionately more v. rgen t. It was a matter of surprise to some that the Auckland Provincial Government buildings, with their valuable contents, were uninsured. The fact is, however, that such a precaution wan considered quite unnecessary, the buildings being constructed in such a manner as to be to all appearance fire-proof. Every known precaution had been taken in their erection—how vainly, the result has shown. When stone buildings, constructed with special means of resisting tire, have thus been swept away, the extent to which a fire might spread in Napier, where many of the buildings are like dry fuel, can scarcely be imagined. The destruction of the Post and Telegraph offices wi'li their contents, in a city like Auckland, is a serious calamity, if only for the stoppage of business and endle.-s complications to which it will give. rise. The Provincial documents, as well as the land office records, appear also to have been destroyed, and the complications and litigations »vhieh may thence arise it would be difficult to estimate This leads us again to a matter of local importance. The whole of the records of the Supreme Conn in this Province—many of them of very givab importance are stored in a small room in the Government buildings, no extra precaution whatever being provided, either against fire or robbery. In the event of a fire in the offices they would either be consumed, or scattered to the winds—it would be a matter of sheer impossibility to save them. The necessity of some place of safety for these important records has been repeatedly urged by the officers in charge upon the Government—but matters of urgent necessity seem to be among the last that lecetve official atteotiou at head-quarters. The Laud

office and Registry office records are stored in fire-proof rooms, and it is a scandal to the authorities that equal care is not taken of the records of the Supreme Court.

We would draw attention to the Rechabitc Soiree to be held this evening in the Oddfellows' Hall. We understand that a number of gentlemen of recognised talent have promised to assist, and that a very attractive programme has been prepared. The previous soirees given by the Order in Napier have been very successful, and we hope that a similar result may attend the present one.

We understand that the hon. the Native Minister, who has been in Napier for some time past, will proceed to Wellington on Saturday, in the ps. Luna, which vessel will, we hear, leavo that port about the 12th prox., for the South, with his Excellency the Governor.

Jn the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day there was one civil case—Cook v. Meyer, a claim of 10s wharfage.— The defendant, who is master of the brigdiitine Kate Kearney, pleaded that there was no reference to wharfage dues in the . harbor regulations.— Claim proved—Judgment for amount claimed, with 9s costs.

The Rev. R. Taylor will (D.V.) conduct Divine service on Sunday next, 24th inst., as follows :—At Waipukurau, at 11 a.m.; atKaikora, at 3 p.m.; and at Waipawa, at 6 30 p.m. A challenge to take part in a friendly rifle contest having Uen -,ent home by the Kapler Rifle Volunteers to the 55th Company of Lanarkshire Rifles, it. has been accepted. The ranges are 200, 500, and 600 yards—standing at the tilst range, and any position at the other tw r o: 5 shots at each range, with sighting shots. The home company were to have fired in September. The tiring of the local team has, from various causes, been delayed, but is now fixed to take place on Tuesday morning next. We trust the weather may prove tine.

Our attention has been drawn to an error in our telegram yesterday relating to the Auckland Hre. The " Bank of Australia" was a misprint for the "Bank of Australasia."

There appeal's to be no Maori equiva lent for " Road Board." In au advertisement ill the Poverty Bun Standard, in the native language, we find in the

place of the unlranslateable words the following curious rendering: '* Ron J. v)l L.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to accept ihe resignation of the commission held by Sub Inspector (Ist Class) Frederick Swinde Ley, Armed Constabulary. J. H. Campbell, Esq, Resident at Waiapu, was a passenger IVom Poverty Bay by the p.s Luna this morning. The object of his visit to Napier is, according to the Poverty Bay Standard, " to confer with the Hon. the Native and Defence Minister upon important mat f eis connected with Natives under his jurisdiction." We learn from the local paper that vigorous efforts are being made in Poverty Buy 10 raise funds for the purpose of erecting a Roman Catholic place of worship in Gisbornc. It may interest some of our readers to know chat Mr W. Barsdell, late of Napier, is now at Gisborne, Poverty Bay, in full fling an knight of the comb and scissors.

Aii instance of delay in making up the accounts of the colony is afforded by tho New Zealand Gazette just Issued, dated 12th November. It contains a statement of the receipts and expenditure of the public accounts of N«w Zealand for «he quarter ending 30th June last, and also for the financial year 1871-2.

Statements of the liabilities and assets of the various banks in the colony for the quarter ending the 30ih of September last, are published in the New Zealand Gazette.

The suspension of the certificate of Mr J. P. Hamlin, as an interpreter under the Native Lands Act, has been rescinded from the Ist instant bv the Native .Minister. -

The lOth November being the anniversary of the Poyeity Bay massacre, the Standard appeared in mourning on the previous day. The appointment of the Hon. Wiremu Katene to be a member of the Executive Council, i* notified in a New Zealand Gazette just issued. Inquiries are bping made by the Under Secretary, Mr G. S, Cooper, for Miss Ann Watson Com per, an assisted immigrant, who arrived in Dunedin from from Scotland in 1863; and also for James Thomas Couch, the dale of whose arrival in the colony is unknown, and who is supposed to be dead. The Citizen Cricket Club, Dunedin, recently offered a piize for the best conundrum. The following was chosen : —"Why did Mr Stafford's Ministry fail to inspire confidence*—Because he turned out a Fox, and trusted to a Keid for support." The following is from the LyMelton Times, Nov. 14 :—The time appointed for holding the exhibition of produce and manufactures with a view to selecting exhibits for Vienna, is now lapidly approaching, and it is satisfactory to know that the arrangements aie in a forward state, also that every indication of success is given. The exhibition is to be held in the drill shed and parade enclosure—than which nothing could be more suitable—and his Excelleney the Governor will visit Canterbury to open it in person. Up to the present time, notice has been received from forty intending exhibitors, representing Canterbury, Dunedin, Napier, Nelson, West port, and 'Keciton. A letter has been received by last mail from the Superintendent of Auckland, stating that time would scarcely permit of that province being very fully represented, but efforts would be made to do as much as possible to wards pi omot nag the success of the exhibition. Jn addition to these sources whence exhibits will be derived, the Colonial and Canterbury Museums will contribute something. So far all is well, but there seems to be a most objectionable neglect to comply with the secretary's request to forward applications for the extent of space required for the several exhibits, and it is necessary that serious attention should be paid to the point at once. A plan of the Drill Shed is now being prepared, and it is impossible to make it really complete or allot space to intending exhibitors with any degree of correctness unless they state beforehand how much they require, and (he time ior holding the exhibition is now so near at hand that any delay cannot fail to be attended with serious inconvenience. This applies the mote forcibly to machinery and carriages, for the special accommodation of which a temporaly building will have to be erected on the parade ground, a work it would be absolute