LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 414, 23 January 1878, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[PRESS AGENCY. 1 Auckland, January 22. It is reported that a seat at the Thames will soon be vacant, and that Mr W. Rowe has been offered the Mining Inspectorship at the Thames. The offer is. likely to be accepted. The* Government party will try to return a mem her favorable to the 'present Government. Christchurch, January 22. Owing to the renewal of "wet weather, the cricket match was again postponed. It will be continued to-morrow, Wednesday. The rain has. ceased, bui it still looks threatening. .

LATEST UNPUBLISHED.

GREAT FIRE IN. QHRISTCHTmCH: Christchurch; January 23. A serious fire occurred ,tlris: morning in the block of buildings bounded by Colombo and Cashel streets^'being the centre of the business part of the°city. It commenced in the back.premises of . J. Barrett, hairdresser, and quickly extended to both sides, north and south. It had obtained a Strang hold before the alarm was sounded, and before the Fire Brigade, which turned out smartly, had got properly to work the shops occupied by Mr Parker, commission agent, atid Scrimshaw, furniture warehouse, on the south side were in flames, also Roberts watchmaker's shop, on the north, and the flames were making way through the windows in the brick partition wall ot the A 1 Hotel, which is three storeys high. Supt. Harris being unfortunately out of town, the efforts of the Fire Brigade were not so-, well directed as usual, and afcer a time] a scarcity of water was also experienced. The Brigade arrested the progress of tlie fire on the south side, after ifc had partially damaged the shop.s of 'Mr Phillips* clothier, next to Scrimp shaw's; but while the, Brigade were endeavoring to save the A. 1 Hotel the fire communicated af the rear ol the hotel and in the shops of Line, butcher ; Beath, draper ; Watt, draper iri Cashel street. The Brigade after, all < failed to. save the A 1 hotel j which was completely destroyed ; and | they had a hard fight to prevent the fire extending along Cashel street to I High street. The fire raged for three | hours, during which the following | damage was done.—A-1 containing I about fifty rooms; Scrimshaw's, Parker's i Barrett's, and Roberts's shops totally } destroyed ; Phill ps's shop and stock ) damaged-; back premises of Beath's ' drapery shop destroyed and stock in! front of shop damaged j stockof Pratt, | draper, also damaged. No particulars I as to the value of the property damaged

and destroyed, or as to the insurances, is yet obtainable. The origin of the fire is unknown. The Lyttelton Times this morning says that the Hon. Jarae» Macandrew passed through Christchurch yesterday on his way to Wellington to be present at a full meeting of the Cabinet. One of the objects of the meeting is to make arrangements for the coming appropriation for public works -in ac-cordance-with the means available, and on a basis that will be fair to each Provincial district.