Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 483, 20 June 1857, Page 5

Colonial.

WELLINGTON.

i We extract from the papers last; received tevergl paragraphs of interest, for which we have n6t been, able to find room hitherto. I Fire.—About half-past 1 o'clock on Monday (morning last, the town wa« alarmed by the ringing of the bells of the shipping in port, the bells of the (various churches, andthe Fire Bell belonging to (the Liverpool and London Insurance Company, as well as by the repeated cries of fire by the different /watchmen on their heats,. The military at ThornI don sounded'the alarm bugles, and, with a number of the inhabitants, were quickly at the scene of disaster, which proved to be the private residence of I JJr. William Allen, Hawkesfone-street, which, we / regret to say, was entirely consumed by, the fire, apd I everything it contained, the inmates having with I great difficulty escaped with their lives. Mr. Bow- ; Jer, the agent df> the Liverpool'and London Insurancf Company, was quickly on the spot, *ith the eugine'belQDging to the company, and both civilians and military seetned to vie with each other in rendering what assistance they could to extinguish the flames. The fire, however, had got such hold, and so rapid was its progress, that little else could be done than prevent its catching adjacent buildings, the house and stables being consumed in little more than an hour. A poor little dog was burnt to death in (he stables. At one time the residence of Mr. Bowler was in danger of being destroyed, and if the. greatest exertions' had not been made by pouring water on the roof, and putting wet blankets on it we question very, much if it would not also have fell a prey to the devouring elemeni:. Mr. Ham.ley was 1 again at his post, and did effective service; and Mr. Stuart, Mr. Moore and other gentlemen were ateo very active. Col. Sillery, Col. Gold, Major Coote, Captains Blewitt and Paul, were also present to render any assistance that might be required. The military brought the engines from Te Aro down in double quick time, but the building was burnt to the ground before they could ai rive; and there being- only a limited supply of water, they were taken back again. The cause ofi the fire is unknown.but is supposed to have originated^though some defect in the chimney, and the place of ignition to be where the chimney ran through the upper flpor. The fire was first discovered by Mr. Alien,

who had been in bed about two hours, but not. gone to sleep. He heard a crackling. nois>e> which at first,he thought was a mouse j but the noise becoming, louder,, he-awoke Mis. Allen, who, seeing alight"1 under the'fee'd^ro'orrt door, thought it was some of the children, and asking them what they were doing ? Receiving no answer, Mr. Allen- immediately, leaped out of bed, and opened the door, i when the flames burst into his face. He then aroused the family, having some difficulty in waking the boys1, who were sound asleep, and got them from thejr several room,s on to the verandah, down the posts of which they managed to slide into the garJen, in their night dresses, the upper portion of the house being at that time one mass of fiiime. Their cries soon brought assistance, and Mrs. and Miss Allen were taken to the residence of Mr. Bowler. We understand that Mr, Allen was only .partially insured, and that be has lost many things, highly prized'by him. The only thing he imagined he had rescued from the fire, was his gold watch, which he snatched from the pocket in the bed, and put into a snooting jacket, which he gave to his son; but unfortunately it was only saved to be lo.it again, for the son lost it out of the coat pocket,—' Independent,' May 27. Boat Chase. —Some little excitement was caused yesterday by a chase after one of the Alma's boats, in which five men and a, boy absconded in mid-day. As soon as the attempt to make for the Straits became known, a hot pursuit was made by a second boat from the vessel, aided by the one belong to the police, but after a rather long pull the ship's boat returned., the chase was continued by. the.police, and proved, as" stern chases generally do, a U>ng one. The daring act proved successful to- • the runaways landing at Okiwi, were they took to the bush anof escaped, leaving the boat on the beach. The police brought the boat back in the evening but were unable to capture tne seamen.—' Ibid,' May 30. The Queen's Birthday was celebrated on Monday last, or rather would have been celebrated, had not the weather been true to the character it has ''maintained for several years past. 'I he wind changed to the S.E. about 11 o'clock, and it rained more .or less all the day. The troops marched wirh fair weather to Thorndon, but went through their u>ual evolutions and returned in the rain. The Heroes of Alma fired a salute of twenty-one guns ; the shops were closed, but unfortunately there was of nece«sity little or no holiday making. The officers of the 65th assembled in the evening at the the mess, where the usual annual dinner was provided.—' Ibid.' THE ANN WILSON. The Council will no doubt wish for some further explanation as to the escape of Captain Rutherford. That a convict" under such heavy penalties—penal-

ties inflicted for such grots negligencaattended with bucJi Joss of life, and plunging' 8 o many families WQ deep distress, who ought am to 1* rooting themselves m the prosperity of their adopted home --that such a convict should be allowed by the neglect or connivance of somebody or another toescape the clutch of justice requires explanation, full, explicit, and satisfactory. At present nobody knows who is to blame. The Provincial Government, hints one, was indifferent, and did pot wish to see him punish d. The Resident Magistrate neglected the precautions -which the commonest prudence and the usual practice in such, cases indicated, says another, and the blame rests with him, Mr. King, the convict's attorney, is answer,able, says a third-—he. gave his professional guarantee to produce him and broke it—he ought to be held liable in his own person. In the meantime while such things are said nothing appears to be doire. If somebody is legally liable, that somebody the public thinks ought to be made liable in. fact, If the Government has been remiss—if Mr. St. Hill has neglected Ms duty—if Mr. King has saddled himself with a personal'responsibility in the matter, —the Government, Mr. St. Hill, or Mr. King, ought to be brought to book. The Council, we hope, will npt suffer the " majesty of the law" to be laughed at, as it infallibly'will, if further action be not taken in this matter—and if the Government, does not itself initiate it, we trust that some member of the Council will lose no time in bringing forward the question "on whom does the blame of this most disgraceful escape rest 1" —' Independent,' May 33. ' *

Extraordinary Session. — The Provincial Council met yesterday for a brief session, which probably will not last mere than a couple of days. The Superintendent'saddress to the Council, which will be found in our present number, explains his reasons for-holding this extraordinary session. His address is a vindication of the course he had pursued, and a defiance of the General Government. Four Acts of the last session, the Scrip Extension Act, the Hutt Compensation Act, the Additional Loan Act, and. the Passenger Regulation Act, had been disallowed by the General Government. The two first "named Acts, which were disallowed on technical grounds* it is proposedjshoiild be re-enacted and reserved for the Governor's approval, the .course which ought to have been pursued with respect to them in the first instance. The Additional-Loan and the Lighthouse, however, are ,-the chief- burden of his Honor's speech. In effect Jje/te,lls theCoun- ' cil that the disallowance of; tbe,:Ac^. .^ill'nqt "cause any alteratian,in the course he intentends'to pursue ;"' that the money bad been advanced by, the Union', Bank- before the bill had bepn\disajlowe,d f by. the Governor, and therefore thejoaa.was not invalidated by this circumstance, since the disallowance could not have a retrospective effect; that the Lighthouse had been ordered from England, and would probably be out in the colony in six months, and that no time would be lost in its erection on its arrival.. Several arguments are adduced, /'rum which it is attempted to be inferred that the General Government had indirectly concurred in the election of the Light? house by the Provincial Government, though now.it witholds its consent, and that as the money is voted for the erection of the Lighthouse and other.objects contemplated in the Loan Act, in the Appropriation Act, the General Government to be consistent ought to have disallowed the Appropriation Act, and that not having done so, it has, in effect, given, its sanction to the undertaking.—• Spectator,' June 3.

Amateur Theatricals.—On Monday evening a novel attempt was made to contribule to the amusement of the Town by a performance of the Wellington Amateur Dramatic Society at the Lyceum Theatre. Both pieces were the production of residents in Wellington. The first piece " Playing for the Odd Trick," is from the pen of Mr. E. J. Wakefield, who also sustained the principal character: the story consists of the adventures of a young officer, and the difficulties he successfully encounters in winning his Lady-love. The other characters were also ivell supported by Amateurs, the* part of the heroine being sustained by Mrs. Bryan, who I acted with great animation and spirit. The piece was exceedingly well received, and at its conclusion the author was sent for and received the applause of the audience. The after piece, the " Marble Monarch," is the production of Captain Chesney, R E., who also effectively sustained one of the principal characters, and its success was equally decided. The amateurs were as successful in their efforts in this as in the former piece, .md Mrs. Bryan we think appeared to greater nil-r'ntriaii1. Very great pains had been bestowed on tin* ,vM:,ij> up of the piece, the dresses were it; credit' .. t.istc; the scenery, the whole of which we hoJii vo v.fi.s painted by Captain Chesney, v.is ,\u i,n:nen-o t>provement on anythii.-, ci' th kiiU uliich h..« been previously tried in \W>mnur,>u. A sii.iiiai *a.li v.«s made for "the ..uil'di <v ihe t-n I'>t the iik-c ■, which was duh „'i>n... o< d, .isitl M's I3i\an also ni= ceived . > »>* .ipjiLii'^i'- Tlic ni"ii.!ic>is o! the Philh, 1,1 NciM Iv/imly lent their .It-Mftapcu, ami 11:. ii1 ■ ii'iiihiiitd to flitl siicc^.i oJ' the eViMiin'N <! -1 •'!'H''.ii, ■•»•' Itu* eujcymfiit of the audienc*-. '1 ut liou v was <juitefjull> ami boch pieces

were attended with' complete success. Previous ta ibe performance a- prologue by Mr. Wakefield beapedkingt the favor of the audience wai giVen* tfit& great^effect? an* watfvery Weil ;*eeeived:—Ebid.