THE LATE FIRE IN GEORGE STREET.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 244, 7 November 1873, Page 6

THE LATE FIRE IN GEORGE STREET.

At a little after 2 o'clock on Thursday! morning the peal from Bell Hill gave .the alarm so startling at all times, butatnorie more so than when night has fairly settled down. The signal, given ; denoted! that the flames-were in Bell. Ward,. and' they were fierce was shown by -the fact that simultaneously with the clang of the fire-bell a bright and vivid glare;was observable Upon the clouds, which swept low and in masses over the city. The direction was seen to be saear the end of George-street, and the thickness with which the fire burned up was accounted tor by the strong wind blowing at.the I time, arid also because its ravages had [for food a number of wooden houses. i Upon arriving at the scene of the fire, it was found that the block of shops extending from Munro's (monumental sculptor) to Moray Place were in flames beyond redemption. Being all of wood, they felazed like kindling,;and shop fronts^and contents went do wn in rapid, ruin. So intense was the sudden heat that the houses on the opposite side of the-street were in no small degree of danger, flames coming forth in great masses, and that so quickly that, before the fire brigades could arrive, the street itself seemed blocked by a volume of lurid light and smoke, thick with flying embers, Fortunately a number of persons kept playing upon the places in question (including the European Hotel) with the small nose used for domestic purposes, and so prevented the firo getting; across Georgesfcreet; By-the time the Brigade tfame up cwhi<sh. was &ota lqag, apaoa, it plain, that, ._ from Moray ;3?iaee. to the Ridings beyond %c-pe> happily *

Mun*o*s, being built of brick, offered a steady resistance to the spread of the flames, and before long, the hose being got to work, the fire was so far checked and attention directed to extinguishing the mass still burning as far as the corner of Moray Place. In this they were speedily, successful, and one more instance of of a supply of water and of an efficient Fire Brigade was given. The origin of the fire was in Schmidt the baker's, next to which was Jollie's cutlery ; after Chiaroni printseller; then Wilsons, bootmaker; and after that Johnston tailor, with Merrie, fruiters, next to Monro's, where the fire was stopped on the v new side. On the left, of Smith's at the-.corner of Moray-place, was Durie's large grocery store, and this was also burned, the fire being stayed on this side by the intervening street. It is curious that the buildings destroyed were those at which the last fire which*occurred in this' locality was stayed. It was now the lot of the brick places put up on the "site of that fire to prevent the spread of the present one. The insurances, so far as we were able to learn.at the time of going to press, were as follow:—A. Durie: stock, £3ooin the Scottish Company; building, £2OO in the South British. Jollie : building, £IOO in the Norwich ; £IOO on stock in the Norwich. Merrie; £SO on stock, and £SO on building, in the New Zealand. Johnstone is not insured, and estimates his loss at £BO. Merrie estimates his total loss at £3OO. - We may mention that, in recognition of the services which prevented his house from catching fire, Mr. Macdonnell, of the European Hotel, kept an open House for all comers.—' G-uardian.'

We commend the following jfco the care* ful study of the "awful man " whom the ( Guardian' says travels for the 'Bruce Herald ':—A young lady at an evening party some time ago found it apropos to use the expression,, " Jordan is a hard road to travel," but, thinking that to be too vulgar, substituted the following : " Perambulating progression in pedestrian i excursion, along the far-famed thoroughfare of fortune cast up by the banks of the sparkling river of Palestine, is/ indeed, attended with a heterogeneous con-» glomeration of unforseen difficulties." . Wes Christchurch 'Press,' learn that there is a great increase in the number of hares in the region of Hagley Park. SeaHsely a day passes but several are to be seen., crossing the road, or in other parts, and one was unfortunately a few days ago run over by the train near the Bicearton crossing and killed. The Westland papei's announce that the Xanieri Water Race is progressing very satisfactorily, and that Government intend shortly to call for tenders for the construction.of the Hochstetter and the Waimea Water Races. At a meeting at Hokitika respecting the latter race, the speakers all agreed that the ground alongthe whole line was pay ably auriferous; and as one instance of the benefit miners would derive from its construction, a party was named who were working in the terraces with a very limited supply of water, and earning from £lB to £2O per week, which would be increased to £4O or £SO when the Government race was brought in, as the waste water from the higher levels would greatly increase the in .the lower, gullies and thereby double and treble* present results. Tha race is intended to carry sixty or seventy : heads,of as this will be utilised at; the; different levels, a large mining population will be retained in the district. The Duhedin Star ' says : " The question of water rights is becoming a serious one. The Maerewhenua dispute is unsettled; and now one has arisen at Ettrick, where Mr. M'Gill, of Tokomai-: riro, has erected a flour mill, to work which he has applied for a water race. This application is resisted by Mr. J. F. latching, manager of Moa Flat run, on' the ground that the Benger Burn creek takes its rise on Mr. Clark's property/ The ' Bruce Herald' remarks, that when the Mba "Flat block was disposed of, roads and water races were specially reserved, , and it now remains to be seen whether the Government are prepared to take the bull by the horns and defend their rights with regard to those reserves," Four hundred and eight entries liave been received for the Victoria rifle matches. New Zealand sends. 24 Eight Mitford rifles have, arrived for tike, use of the repre. sentatives. From. Queensland; w ; e,learn that when capturing the murderer Garbutt,, he -fired at the police, Shots .werewounding Garbutt's horse,. The poliee have secured him. The.' Times/ newspaper company havo succeeded in,purchasing the'? Wellington Independent, Mr. M'Kensie, the late leceiym un, appointment upon l &-&*&!$&&&> Jtogeat-.; sfcate&ailer, S£r,Togel «g tQ fee the lar^st,