THE FIRE AT LYTTELTON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 259, 4 November 1870, Page 2

THE FIRE AT LYTTELTON.

The Times publishes a full account of the disastrous fire which appears to have broken out about half-past 9 at night, in an outhouse of the Queen's Hotel, which was used as a liquor and general storeroom. When first discovered the flames might have easily been extinguished by a few buckets of water, but unfortunately the necessary supply was not at hand, and in less than a quarter of an hour, the hotel, a large two storey building, with fully 50 feet frontage, was one mass of roaring fire. There appears to be no fire brigade in Lyttelton, while the only appliances available on the occasion of a fire consisted of one small hand engine. The harbor, whence alone water was obtainable, was over 400 feet distant, having a fall towards it of from 80 to 90 feet. Add to . this that Lyttelton was a closely packed town of wooden houses, and that a stiff 1 north-east breeze was blovviDg at the time, and it is not a matter of suprise that within aw hour and a half of the alarm being giveu upwards of 1000 feet of shop frontages were enveloped iu flame?. Owing to the telegraph office being closed at Christchurch, ihe news could uot be sent through, and it was only when the glare in the sky created alarm in that town that telegraphic communication was opened — the office at Lyttelton being at the lime ou fire — and the disaster became known in Christchurch. This was at half-past 11, and by 10 minutes past 12 the Christchurch brigade with their steam firoc-ngine started in the train for the scene of conflagration. "Ou the train running clear of the railway walls on the Lyttelton side," writes one who was present, " the terrible scene in all its grandeur burst upon our view. Before us lay a veritable lake of fire, the flames leaping and hissing as if rejoicing in their deadly work; the lurid glare lighting up with a Rembrandt-like color the hills in the back ground, aud the ships in harbor, every yard and rope being perfectly distinct, as in the full light of day. Few, I think, who saw that scene, will forget it, and I trust it will be long ere I may be called upon to witness such another. On the reclaimed land, as the brigade trundled their hose-reel out and got their steamer into position, might be seen whole families of six or eight little children, with their mother, half-dressed, crouching behind a heap of piled-up furniture, huddled close together for the sake of protection from the keen northeaster, which swept bitterly in from the sea. The poor little fellows raised a cheer as the train ran into the station, and they saw by the light glimmering on the helmets of the men that help had at last arrived. The steamer was soon got into position, and in thirteen minutes steam was up to 701bs and two hoses laid on — the brigade having had to erect a sort of scaffolding on casks -with some timber lying near, over which to conduct their hose. Our space will not admit our of narrating all the efforts that were made — for a long time without success — to subdue the flames -suffice it to say that by ten minutes past two they were completely got under aud nothing remained but to extinguish the smouldering embers. "As the day dawned," says the Times, " the heart-rending circumstances of the disaster were unfolded to view with threefold effect. On all sides were piles of furniture and merchandise ; half clad people promenaded the streets in sorrowful observation of localities so familiar yet so strange in the sudden desolation ; dozens of chimneys stood out in bold naked relief against the sky, like so many monuments of departed life • and, sad to say, drunkenness and rioting formed a prominent feature of the mournful scene." Provisions were sent through from Christchurch by the first train next -morning, and since then the sum of £965 has been collected in that town for the relief of the sufferers.