INTERPROVINCIAL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 244, 6 December 1880, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL.

DISASTROUS FIRES AT DUNEDIN AND KUMARA, ■

INSURANCES, £14,000. Dunedin, Saturday night. Private Grant of the Bruce Rifles made 57 out of a possible of 60 at 400, 500, and 600 yards. Sailed-r- Waipa for London. The heavy rain that fell during this afternoon interfered with the attendance at the Cattle Show. Sunday. One of the most disastrous fires ever occurring in Dunedin broke out about four

o'clock this morning in a large wooden building on tbe reclaimed land used as an engine and tramway shed by David Proudfoot. It is not knowD how the fire originated. Seven men were on the premises at the time engaged in cleaning an engine, but so quickly did the flames spread that they bad barely time to escape. The building has been completely destroyed, also thirty-three tram cars, v seren engines, and a tremendous quantity of oats. The insurances are :— New Zealand, £2000 ; Victoria, £1500 ; Standard, £500 ; Norwich Union, £1000 ; London and Lancashire, £1000 ; Transatlantic, £1000 '; Australian Alliance, £500 ; National, £1000 ; Hamburg, £1000. Total, £12,000. It is almost certain that the fire is a case of incendiarism. The amounts above-named were | obtaiued from the Insurance agents, but Mr | Proudfoot says he is iDßtired for £14,000. He estimates his loss at £7000 above this, without reckoning the lose which must ensue from tho suspension of traffic. Only tbreo cars are left. A cable message will be sent to America to-morrow for others, and more are on the way here, and every effort will be made to keep up tbe traffic. Monday. The National Insurance Company had only £1000 risk on Mr Proudfoot's cars, and nothing on the building. v t Later, 'J^he following is the corrected insurance list :— Stock and plant : Northern, £'2500 ; New Zealand, £2000 j Victoria, £1500 ; Transatlantic, £lt)oO; National, £1000; Hamburg and Madgeburg, £1000; South British, £1000; Norwich Union £1000; Australian Alliance, £300 , Standard, £500. Buildings : Northern, £500 ; Transatlantic^ £500 $ Hamburg, £500. OAts i Northern, £300. . - At the City Court, Wiiliam pearce was committed for trial for sfcabblhg Joseph Mitchell on Saturday afternoon. Kumara, Sunday. A disastrous fire occhrred here at 3 o'clock this morning. It Commenced in Morris feoss* hotel in Seddon-streefc. whicb was burnt down, also the premises of Davies, tailor, Holmes, tent- maker; and Babor, fruiterer, and another -small shop. The origin of the fire is unknown at present. There aro no insurances ou any of the buildings. Tbe fire was ouly confined to tha houses burnt after great exertions by the firemen ahd public* A heavy gale was blowing at the time. Most of the sufferers saved nothiDg. The European and Bank Hotels were severely scorched, and were only saved with great difficulty. Gisborne, Monday. Mr G. M. Reid has concluded arrangements for tbe purchase of i 2,000 acres of excellent farming land for his special settlement, situated within a few milea of Gisborne. Arrangements have also been nearly completed for future special settlements in various blocks along the coast. Wellington, Saturday nigbt. It is stated tbat, while on board the Hinemoa, Tuhi gave a further reason for committing the murder. He said that when Miss Dobie gave him the money and was goiDg away she said she would tell tbe soldiers, and to prevent her doing tbis be killed her. The depositions taken at the inquest have been banded to the Crown Prosecutor and the necessary steps will be taken to secure the witnesses. The Hinemoa leaves for Opunake on Monday for the purpose of bringing down tbe witnesses in the case. Wellington, Monday. The Circus Company left for Lyttelton yesterday. Ewen McColl, the Government librarian, died last night from a stroke of paralysis. At the Magistrates' Court the charge against the captain and steward of the ship Wairoa for alleged smuggling was dismissed. In the charge agaiust the captain for making false returns of stores to the Customs a fine of £25 was inflicted, but the Magistrate held that the shipping ofiice was to blame for the error. Auckland, Monday. Mr Des Voeux has been knighted as a .re*ward for his services in connection with the Bahamas Islands. Having no man-of-war at his service he is unable to proceed to Fiji. He endeavored to engage one of the Union Company's steamers but could not conclude terms. The Star suggests lhat the Hinemoa should be sent if Mr Des Voeux will pay the actual expenses. A patient in the hospital is supposed to be dying from a cancer caused by use of a foal pipe. Christchurch, Monday. The Opawa sailed for london on Saturday with ten passengers and a valuable cirgo of wool and 50,000 sovereigns. The Cricket Association have resolved that tbey cannot at present guarantee any sum towards the cost of the proposed visit of the English Eleven but would be glad to learn what would be considered a fair .sum for a three days' match. Owing to tbe greatly increased business the directors of the Kaiapoi Woollen Company bave decided to extend tbe present size. A furious north-west wind blew on Saturday . and yesterday bufc the crops are not forward enough to be much damaged. Bluff, Monday. The Rotorua arrived at 11.30 a.m. to-day, having left Melbourne at 1.30 p.m. on the lst. She sails at 5 p.m. for Dunedin.