Total Desiruction of Government House by Fire.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 216, 24 June 1848, Page 3

Total Desiruction of Government House by Fire.

Ypsthrday morning, at half-past four o'clock, the sentry on duty was alauncd by a volume of flame issuing fiom the noith wing of Government House, in immediate contiguity to the kitchen. Thcalaim was speedily communicated from sentry to sentiy ; and almost on the instant, thcCoipoial of the General's guaid (whose post is close to the Government gate) in conjunction with the Seigeant of the Goumuoi's, hastened with their mentothe spot, the Coiporal having pre\iously despatched a messenger to apprise the main guard at the bat lacks of the impending catastiophe. Thcseunitcdguaids,numbei ing seventeen men, displayed 1 he greatest promptitude and decision, their leaders forcing the western doois of the mansion, and lousing its inmates, A\ho, unconsciousof dangei,\\eiebuned in piofound repose. His Excellency the Goveinoi immediately conveyed Mis. Grey from the burning pile, whence she was foithwith conducted to the residence of General Pitt, where his Excellency has been necessitated to seek a temporary shelter. The guests and domestics of the establishment nartovvly escaped, with scarcely a vestige of clothing. The soldiers of the two guards meanwhile, were assiduously employed, removing hooks, papers, and furniture ; and although the h're spread throughout the building Avith extraordinaiy rapidity, such was their activity and zeal that nearly all the recoids of the Private and Native Secretary's offices, (situate in the southern wing), most of the Governor's library, and a good deal of the household furniture, weie through their mciitoiious exeitions, saved. The 58th regiment, headed by Colonel Wynyard ; the police, under the supei vision of their inspector, Captain Atkyns •, together with a party of royal artillery, Avere shoitly on the ground ; not Avith any idea of preserving the mansion, because Auckland, alas, possesses but one of those essentials to the extinction of fire, — an engine, — but with a view to the maintenance of order, and the rescuing as much property as possible from the flames. The Governor in person superintended the whole of the operations, and the soldiery and police laboured amid the blazing walls with untiling ardour, until his Excellency, fearful lest the loot" should fall and engulph them, dtiected their letiiing from the perilous undeitaking, — thankful, as he himself expiessed it, — that no life v\as lost. The Colonial and Private Secretaries vverc present, the latter gentleman being paiticularly active. The bugles of the sSth having sounded the general turn out, the inhabitants were quickly aroused, the vast concourse which hastened to lender assistance being Avitnesses of the grand but destiuctive .spectacle. Within an hour the entire structure, with the exception of the chimneys, was burnt to the ground. During the day parties were employed searching amidst the debris in discovery of any fusions of plate, none of that valuable aiticle having been removed. The (ire is supposed to have originated in the butler's apaitments. This is the second vice regal hall which has been burned down since the establishment of the colony-, that at Russell having been consumed on the sth of May, 1542. The late edifice was constructed, of Norway and American pine, by Mr. Manning, of High Holborn, London, at a cost of about lavo thousand guineas ; however, with alterations, additions, and embellishments since its erection here, it has entailed an expenditure (as Aye have been credibly informed) boidering upon £ 10,000, It Avas but a shell at best, and Aye hope it will be replaced by a fabric of a more substantial and secure description. In the meanwhile, (in a town where, from the influx of immigiants, even the humblest individual finds it matter of difficulty to procure a house to shelter in,) the inconvenience and discomfoit to which the Governor has been reduced, is matter of general and unfeigned regret. We lecommcnd our fellow Unvnsmen to improve this warning by a renewed carefulness in respect to fire ; for had that subtle enemy broke forth in any of our crowded streets, with the strong breeze of Friday morning, A\e might piobably have had to deplore the conflagration of scores of wooden houses, instead of simply recording the destruction of one.

Mechanics 1 Instituie. — We understand that Dr. Campbell, the President of this Society, takes his departure for Sydney by the Louisa ; proceeding from that port to India in the Hyderabad, and thence oveiland to Em ope where the Doctor will remain for some time. We trust the Institute ovei which he has so long presided will not permit the AvoiUiy Doctor to take even a tempoiaiy departure from these shores without some token of the estimation with whjLC.li we aio well awaie they legaid 'him.