WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 388, 23 July 1856, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

(From the "Spectator," Juty 9.)

The following vessels were advertised iv the ' Times' of March 20lh, to sail for this Colony: —the Hastings, 850 tons, Haddock, for "Wellington and Canterbury, to follow the Libertas ; Gipsy, 600 tons, Bolton, for Auckland and New Plymouth, to sail April 5, and the Melpomene, 600 tons, Laurenson, for Otago and Nelson, to sail April 5. The above vessels belong to Messis. F. Young and Co.'s Line.

The barque Libertas, Captain Dobson, belonging to Messrs. F. Young & Co.'s line of ships, arrived in our harbour yesterday, having left London on Good Friday. She brings the following passengers. Capt. and Mrs. Cailyon and family : N. Combe, Esq., late E. I. C. Set vice, and family ; E. l^feA. Fitzroy, Esq., and Mrs, Fitzroy; C^itain Daniell; N. Y. Wishaw, Esq.; Keith and W. Jackson, Esqrs. ; O. Pierce, Esq. ; Mr. Aldridge, &c, and about twenty intermediate passengers. The Libertas has had on the whole most favorable weather, but she was becalmed nearly three weeks on the line, and lias had foul winds since passing Hobarton ; had it not been for these delays she would have made a rapid passage. The mail ship James Baines, that left Liverpool on April sth, passed her on the 16th of June within four or five days sail of Melbourne. We understand that there is a regular London Omnibus on board, which is intended to ply between Lyttelton and Christchurch^ We tliuk the sp'rited proprietor would find it an easier and more profitable adventure to run it between Wellington and the Hutt than on its intended route.

Another Fire.—On Saturday night last, considerable anxiety was felt in town in consequence of an alarm of fire having been given. The fire appears to have been first discovered by a native policeman named " Timothy," who observed smoke issuing from the roof of the Wellington Hotel. He directed the attention of the Corporal to it, who immediately blew a whistle, which, by a concerted arrangement, was understood by the policemen on the different beats, who sprunsr their rattles, and alarmed the inhabitants. " -A number of people were quickly on the spot, and by their united and strenuous efforts succeeded iv extinguishing the fire. At first great difficulty was experienced in finding out its exact position, as the house was filled with smoke almost to suffocation. It was at last discovered to be iv the wood work behind the chimney, in the large upper room, and on the chimney being pulled down, *^c cause of the smoke was discovered, bidders having been obtained from Mr. Minifies premises adjoining, water was speedily conveyed to the roof, and a line of buckets was formed up the grand staircase, and [the fire was, after some considerable time", got under. Great credit is due to Mr. Wood, of the Commissariat, Mr. Plamlev. Major Coote, Mr. Jas. Wallace, Mr. Carter," Mr. S. Levy, and others for their exertions in helping to extinguish the lire. The occurrence of this fire again shews the increased importance of the immediate establishment of a Fire Brigade under the command of a competent person with full authority to act. If such had been in existence the fire mighty have been extinguished in 10 minutes, as every person present was anxious to net, but were afraid to do ao without authority. We trust that

there will no longer be any delay in the carrying out this important object, which so deeply affects the interests of the inhabitants ol this town, ami to which we have: so often directed public attention. — Wellington Independent, July \6-