INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 224, 21 September 1877, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

[press agency.]

Wellington, Friday. Dr Lemon bas just received the following telegram from Wakapuaka with regard to cable interruption;— "Bata via advises us there is no interruption on cable line, only working badly and blocked— please notify stations." Auckland, Thursday. When the alarm was given by the nighfc watchman, Dr. Aicken, the superintendent, and Mrs Longdill, the matron, at ouce opened all the dormitory doors for the purpose of rescuing the inmates. The fire was first discovered in the refractory cells at the back of the building, and which are built of wood. The cause of the outbreak was soon explained by one of the female patients named Mrs Moarow, who confessed that she set fire to her mattrass with the intention of burning down the place, the reason assigned by her being that she had been locked in a cell with a Maori woman. It was with difficulty that all the dormitory doors could be opened, such was the hold the fire had got by that time, and some of the cells had to be brokeu into from the back to rescue the inmates. The poor creatures were terror stricken, and many refused to quit the building and had to be dragged out by the warders. The IS2 patients were safely got out. Of these, 63 were females, who were taken out in their night clothes, and wrapped in blankets. The scene on the lawn almost defied description. Many of the lunatics became refractory, and required much attention to prevent escape or mischief; the most unruly were tied to the fence. The majority behaved quite rationally, many assisting greatly in the efforts to save tbeir fellow inmates and to preserve order. Mrs Fortune, who is believed to have been burned to death, was the wife of a baker at Napier, and sister of Father O'Reilly, of Coromandel. It is supposed that she, and another patient who was afterwards got out with great difficulty, had wandered back into the building. The Asylum was insured by the Provincial Government for £10,000 in the New Zealand office, bufc the General Government allowed the policy to lapse. Friday. A fire broke out last night in a two-storey building in Hobson-streefc. The whole contents were on fire and blazing fiercely when the hose was fixed fco the hydrant of the new water supply, and pufc the fire out almost immediately. This the first occasion /m which the new water supply has been tried for fire, and the result excited great admiration. There was great risk otherwise of the fire spreading. The barque Galatea has arrived from London after an uneventful voyage of iO4 days. Mr Buckland reports— Fat cattle steady at 35s per 100lb3; store sheep more numerous, brisk inquiry at od per lb; lambs, well fattened, 9s to Iss. The building burned yesterday was insured for £150 in the Imperial. All the lunatics who escaped during the fire at the asylum are recovered. Dunedin, Friday. The question of what terms should be conceded to the Australian cricketers on I their visit to Duuedin was discussed last ' night by the Otago Cricket Association. The ! matter was referred to a Committee with power to act, provided that no mouey guarantee be offered. Hokitika, Thursday. _carlct fever prevails among the children here to an alarming extent, and there have been several deaths this wee*. Judge Weston has lost a son and daughter. A number of families are absent from the public schools. At the Supreme Court, J. Heenan, for perjury, was sentenced to four months' imprisonment.