TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 169, 17 July 1872, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

o [Pek Gkkvillk's Telegram Company.] PROVINCIAL. . Auckland, July 16. M. J. Perston, secretary of the Kanueranga Road-Board, committed suicide last eveniug, by blowing out his brains with a rifle. The Board was sitting in the adjoining room aud knew nothing of it. He was short in the Board's cash to the amount of £60. A meeting of the Shortlaud people in connection with the fire, called by Mr. Macdonald, solicitor, -was held this afternoon, at Butt's theatre, when it appeared tbat no oue was insured. A brigade for Shortland is on the tapis. More than half the north side of Pollenstreet, comprising the section between Willoughby and Grey streets was destroyed. The fire apparently originated in a building used as a bowling alley, near the Melbourne Hotel. A few minute 3 after the first alarm was given at about 2 a.m., the whole of the ranges were illuminated, and a great crowd soon assembled. The inhabitants of some of the houses were In tbe greatest clanger, aud had to rush out in their night dresses. Scarcely anything was saved by them. Those who were further removed worked bard to save their furniture and merchandise, and in^a few minutes there was a continuous pile stretched along near the houses on the opposite side from the fire. A determined attempt was made to save a large building by pulling down the shop of Knight the, butcher. Axes were strongly plied, and as the timber was slow to yield, a rope was obtained, and the building pulled piecemeal into tbe middle of the street. Tbe wind, which was blowing from the north-west, carried the flames towards the sea at Grey-street end, and the critical point was to save the building formerly occupied by the Bank of New Zealand. The fire burnt very fiercely at the shop next door, but some young fellows climbed on to the roof; buckets of water were passed up from two large tanks, and after aloogand determined struggle the fire was got under. The whole of the west side of the street from the Bank of New Zealaud on the south to the Black Forest Butchery on the north is literally reduced to ashes. The following is a list of the houses consumed : — Two or three belonging to Mr. Driver; that in which Mr. M'Gregor, solicitor, formerly had his office; Harrison's Melbourne Boarding House; Marks' bootshop and dwelling-house; adjoining, and also hie property, Mrs. Whitehead's house, Hales' shop, Hurley's bootshop and dwellioghouss; Bowling Alley; shop and dwelling-house of Blundell, the watch--1 maker ; Grant's shop and dwelling-house ; Mrs. Ritchie's two houses, and Gerrish's Oyster Saloon. The damage is very heavy, and will prove dreadfully trying to several poor people whose all was contained in their shops and establishments. The crowd willingly rendered every assistance. Wellington, July 17. Owing to another case of smallpox yesterday, the Government intend setting apart a building in a secluded position for patients suspected of having smallpox. The Hon. John Hall will probably be offered a seat.mi the Ministry, and culled tothe Upper House. t . ! 7 , iSaii<d^Tiirari^' J f6^'Lyt(eltbn; -