Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 170, 15 January 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir,— The following is a simple statement of occurrences, during the day <n which the Lord Bishop's premises, at Kohimarama, the effecti of the Rev. G. A. Kessling, and great part of Mrs. Kemptliorne s property, were destroyed by fire :— The buildings at Kohimarama were erected by Wm. Spain, Esq., in the year 1843. The main building, being originally intended for a barn, consisted of materials from a yesiel, the pitch and tar of which still adhered to the planks enclosing the frame of the house. The roofs of the whole range of housei were shingled ; but impaired by weather and age. On Mr. Spain's remoTal, the property was secured for a benevolent purpose in connection with the College of St. John. In order to Rive that benevolent purpose a practical effect, as well as to take advantage of the eligibility of its situation for an establishment of a NatiVJ girls school, his Lordship, the Bishop, allowed me to occupy the premises at a very moderate rent. Eighteen native girls, from various districts of New Zealand, had been admitted into our school: they availed themselves cheerfully of a steady course of instruction and industrial improvement: holding forth to us the distant hope of seeing them one day prepared to carry useful knowledge to their respective homeg, and especially to train up the next generation in the fear of God, as well at in habits of industry, peace, and cleanliness. In the midst of this hopeful prospect, we were visited by a most distressing event, the immediate cause of which is still enveloped in mystery. On Sunday, the 2nd inst., the orders of our establishment were as follows : 9 o'clock, a. m., I attempted to proceed to Auckland by boat for the purpose of performing divine service ; but in consequence of high wind and the ebbing of the tide, I bad to return to Kohimarama. 10 o'clock, a» in. The Natives belonging to our establishment, were sent to Orakee to attend Church and School, from which they did not return until the ravages of the fire were over. Io£ o'clock, a. m. The European portion of our establishment went to St. Thomas, at the Tamak-, where I performed Divine Service for the Rev. T. B. Hutton, who had gone to Auckland to do my duties amongst the Native population. During this morning service, the premises at Kohimarama were left in charge of Mrs. Kempthorne's nurse, and two native girls; one about 14 and the other 16 years of age. " Another girl, being ill, was left in the girl's bedroom—that part of the buildings standing separate from the rest, altogether escaped the fire. At this part of the day, a stranger (Native) was observed, by one of the girls, standing at the Western gate of the garden amongst the trees. The girl became frightened at his appearance, and went to inform her companion of the circumstance. The other girl saw two natives on the bsach ; but not the stranger. This circumstance seems to have taken place just before 2 o'clock, p. m., when Mrs. Kissling and Mrs. Kempthorne, with their children, returned from church. My duties called me from St. Thomas to Orake, for Divine Service amongst the Natives, including the girls of our school. Mr 8 . Kissling and Mrs. Kempthorne, on their return, fouud that there was n> fire in the kitchen, nor was there any fire in any part of the house. At 2$ o'clock, p. m., Mrs. Kissling and an English servant went twice into the store-room for provisions, when everything appeared in usual order, and not the slightest suspicion or alarm was excited on either occasion. No fire ever came to that part of the house : and yet in less than half an hour after Mr?. Kissling and Mrs. Kempthorne's servant had been there, the fire broke out in that very store-room, and Mrs. Kissling, as well as Mrs. Kempthorne, deicribes its first appearance as having been like a red ball, about the size of the crown of a man's hat, blazing into the i house, immediately from beneath the eaves of the roof. . , . Thii part of the building being to the windward of the dwelling house, and connected with it by a verandah, communicated the flames to the rest, and the fire had thus in less than 10 minutes, a full play over all the premises. la lets than half an hour from its commencement, thß whole range of buildings became reduced to a heap of smouldering ashes. Such was the rapidity of the devouring element as to baffle every attempt to save even a few of the most valuable articlei in our house. Mrs. Kiisling, ia her anxiety to rescue a tin box and my letters testimonial, narrowly escaped with her life. But her greatest distress was the disappearing of our second little boy, about six years old, who, on seeing the house in flames, set out for Orakee in order to call me, and bring me the welcome information that no lives had been lost. He was indeed, a little messenger of peace to my mind, harrassed as it wa« with most gloomy anticipations. God's mercies, even in the midst of this visitation, were greater than my fears. Mrs. Kempthorne, though her loss is heavy and •evere, had a little time to snatch some of her property from the black columns of smoke, but soon her house also burst into a blaze, consuming almost every article of her valuable furniture, part of which had been at our house, where it was utterly impossible to make an attempt to save them. Our kind neighbours, as well as a great number of natives, hastened to our assistance, but the ravages of the fire had left then little more to do than to condole with us, and to remove the few things of Mrs. Kemptborne to the house of our kind friend, Mr. Porter. There were indeed a few natives, who stated that they

had seen when the fire first broke out; and of them I should have taken it more kindly had they given us that help which, from their own statement, it seemed to have been in their power : still, as they are not within the sphere ef my ministerial duties, I can only say that I over-estimated my el aim on their sympathy and timely aid. At the same time it would be uncharitable to cast nny reflections on thois individuals. My occasional intercourse with them was nerer attended with unpleasantness, or unkindly feelings: hence thero it no ground for entertaining suspicion. The pleasing conduct and testimony of affection from thoie natives to whom my labours are directed, have been previously noticed, so that I need to say nothing more on that subject. The above statement may, therefore, suffice to place the distressing subject in as clear a light before thepublic as we can at present obtain, in order to prevent ■ mis-statements and falie impressions: and, while we cannot unravel its mystery, we bow in submission under its effects. I am, Sir, yours, &c, G. A. KISSLINGPurewa, Jan. 12, 1843.