PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 3161, 21 December 1886, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

—♦ [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Dunedin, December 20. In the Bankruptcy Court to-day, Hugh Mitchell, of the late firm of Morrison and Mitchell, auctioneers, was sentenced to seven days’ imprisonment without hard labour, for contracting a debt when ho had no reasonable or probable ground of being able to pay it.

A young man, well connected in Invercargill, named T. D. Harvey, appeared at the Police Court on a charge of larceny of over £8 and a revolver, and was remanded to enable the probation officer to report. It was stated that his parents had disowned him through bad conduct. Christchurch, December 20.

J. L. Coster's funeral at Opawa this afternoon, was attended hy 150 persons representing (he principal business circles and the banks. The coffin was borne by six quartermasters of the Aorangi. A. Ayers, Mayor of Christchurch, is a probable candidate for the Heathcote seat.

THE NAPIER FIRE. Napier, December 20. The fire which occurred on Saturday smouldered until Sunday afternoon, and until then the damage could not be accurately ascertained. The heaviest losers are Banner and Liddle, auctioneers; and the proprietors of the Herald and Telegraph. There was little time to get anything from the Telegraph office, and all that could be saved was some jobbing type. Most of the machinery is a complete wreck, but an old machine was got to work to-day and the paper came out in a reduced size and a motley garb of type, A small sheet was even brought out on Saturday and worked at Mr Harding’s office, which was saved. The News on Saturday also appeared as a single page, for though its plant was saved at one time the office was in a blaze and the type was removed. When it became evident that the Herald office must go, the staff were set to work to save the type used in printing the paper, and enough was got out to enable the paper to appear as usual this morning. Most of the type was ’ost and all the machinery, including a large two-feeder imported six months ago. None of either the letter-press or lithographic machines can be repaired, but the proprietor of the News courteously placed his machine at the disposal of the Herald, which is thus able to issue regularly. Banner and Liddle saved nothing—a number of pianos and a large amount of furniture in their store being destroyed. Fortunately Hoadley and Co. had ceased to use their town store for the storage of wool, which was at their Spit house, and that fact saved the loss of several thousand pounds more.

The Herald this morning calls for an inquiry into the circumstances of the fire, Saying—“ We write in no revengeful spirit, but we maintain that to guard against a similar, or even worse catastrophe in the future, it is necessary Saturday’s fire should be thoroughly investigated. The fire occurred in broad daylight, within a stone’s throw of the station-house, where steam and fire engines stood in readiness, and hundreds of feet of hose lay neatly coiled in rolls. The mains attached to both high and low reservoirs were close at hand and within a few yards of the place where the outbreak occurred. There was a saltwater well for the use of the Steam engine. Under such conditions the fire should not hare been allowed to spread beyond the building in which it originated, or, at most that and the next building. Most certainly it should never have been allowed to cross Tennyson street, and the fact that it did so is in itself proof of the necessity for investigation." A report in the same paper also alleges on the testimony of Superintendent Water work, of the Napier .Brigade, that the loss of property on

the north side of Tennyson street was entirely due to the refusal of the Spit Biigade to go to that part acceding to instructions. There was not a drop of water poured on the buildings there until the Hei'ald Office had disappeared. However, the brigades undoubtedly did incalculable service in averting the fire spreading in an opposite direction; but for them the Criterion block, the Masonic block, Messrs Neal and Close’s enormous establishment, and many other valuable buildings must have gone, and the chances are that the whole business portion of the town would have been swept away. The insurance agents have held a meeting, but they refuse to state the losses of the several offices until salvage claims are adjusted. Approximately they are as follow:—South British, L 4500; Union, L 30 0; London, Liverpool, and Globe, L 100 0; Victoria, L 250 0; New Zealand, L 175 0; National, L 1200; Standard, L 1000; Colonial, L 200 0; London and Lancashire, L 50 0; North British, LSOO ; Norwich Union, LIOOO ; Northern, LSOO.

The losses in property destroyed amount to L 16.150, thus distributed;— Duncan’s building, L3OO, stock nil ; Daily Telegraph, L 1750; Banner and Lidrlle, stock, L7OO, building, L 200 0; Sheath, building, L 250 ; Lee, building, L 250, furniture, L 15 0; Ellison, building, L 220;00; Eakins, building, L 250, slock nil ; Evans, stock, L 100; Wills, shop aud smithy, L 100; Salisbury and Logan, occupied premises, L 220;5 0; Martin, stock and building, L 60 0; Sainsbury and Logan, new-premises, L 550 ; Herald office, L 4500 ; Masonic Hall, LG000; Hoadley and Co., building and furniture, LllsO ; Nicholson, stock and bui'ding, L 35 0; Levy, stock, L 350, building, L 40 0; empty shop next Levy’s, L 400; Lessonge, building, L 300; empty shop next Jensen’s, L3OO.

The salvage claims on property injured, but the rest of which was destroyed, bring the total up to about £20,000; the loss of property was fully £35,000. Tenders are already called for new offices for Sainsbury and The Herald advertises for competitive designs for a large block of buildings; and others are taking active steps to rebuild. Both Hoadley and Co., and Knowles, proprietor of the Telegraph, recently had plans prepared for new offices, and probably these will be started on at once.

THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. Wrt.ungton, December 20

Al!hough the; Midland tailway contract was submitted to the Cabinet and approved about a fortnight ago, soon l minor details siil! remained under considcration. Tho-e have now been settled, and the local healths have accepted the contract subject to the approval of the homo boaid. Tim prominent objects kepi in view during the consideration of the contract were the giving of facilities belli to Government and the company to use the land as rapidly as they could be beneficially oeupied. Cre.r precautions are being taken to, protect effectually not only existin,' mining interests, but any fresh ones that may grow up, and next, to prosecute the rapid construction of the rdlwav liom three ends, which will be commenced immediately at Bmnnerton and fol'owod with little delay at Springfield and Belgrove.