ALARMING CONFLAGRATION, AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY IN HOBART TOWN. (From "the Colonial Times," Dec. 5.)

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 600, 14 January 1852, Page 2

ALARMING CONFLAGRATION, AND DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY IN HOBART TOWN. (From "the Colonial Times," Dec. 5.)

It becomes our painful duty to recoul one of the most destructive confl.igiations that has ever been known to occui in the history of (his metropolis. The vholp town was tin own into excitement early this morning, by the appalling fact ot the entire ruin of a large r.in«e of premises occupied by flJeMsrs. Kissock, linen-diapcis, Maibhall, greens;vocHi, Woollen, shoemakei, and Self, co»n-d«iler,in Muna>-stiwt. Between the houi a of 12 and i o'clock this moimng, the Cie was obsm-ed to ii B sue fioin the back piemibes of Mr. Woollen and

Yeend's stabl"s by a pei-oii of the name ol Junes Lu\o, uliowa, then < j nt;;i';ed m fillm" up thewnter pipes lot the rnpjit. Hoar oiircsM\e (he.iii.un to the police. 'Jbe disti s-in-r lntelli-ji lie s 'on -pi-.nl over the p'incip'il thoioii.jhi.nt's ot the, utv, the inhabitants of which ueie thrown into (lie gie.iiest possible exciten:ent. Ilvintli otls of 0111 cii.i/.o>i-, _ arose l;om then slumbers andhiuped to the seen- of d<'»asuin>ii. 'J lie engines were sp-eddv on the spot. iW tl,u- time th-> ilHut, li.jd amended to the tops>ol tbe d«olliM»s», whei ■ flip woik of ignition w..s instantaneous. 'Hip roofs, which wpv.' composed of lisht s,hin»ling, ami voiy diy fiom then cent w.um \v(vth< 1 «eies"ou in a b'n/,e. 'J be wind bad f ltunateh .\bvtcd, otbei^i^ \bt» mm would iiavi' bid been far moio disa-tious. 'J be fue now assumed in npp.illinga-.pfct, issuing fiom (n.-iy npeituieot the dwellni!>s Jill round tbf 1 promises, the ila. lies toweied in one vast column low.nd-ithe skj. Tbe a^embled niulliliule ucie "-tucken witbawp at .1 sit;lit so unexpected and calaini'ou<;. Tbo engines |iroemed « good suj)ply ot water ,it tbe coiner ot Collins ami Liverpool-slu'i ts, but fiom s-ome uiiintelh^ible causes, tbe suppl} was not immediate; and it appears veiy strange, that the creek winch iuus neaily alongside tbe fire, wheie tbere ih an abundance of water was not instantly tehoited to. Major Last and a company of 99th regiment, with tbe military enuine, artived soon after the alaun was guen and retideied mvnluablu assistance. Notwithstanding the combined efforts of some six or cisrbt engines, and tbe almost supei human exertions of a large body of our most respectable tiadesmen and merchants, amongst whom Captain Addi&on and Mr. Cleburne weie not the less distinguished for promptness, the fire gained tbe masteiv. and the roofs and shop fionts were quickly consumed. Some of the property was rescued fiom the flames, but tbe deduction of Mr. Kissock's piopeitv was immense. An enormous quantity of linen, blanket 1-',1 -', and bales of woollen lay in the load half consumed. All the internal piemixes were dfStio\ed, only tbd bait»\. alls or Mr. Ki-hooli's house li'iiiiim standing. The otliei buddings aie levelled to tbe giound. Seu'ial persons woie uijujfd in their attempts to extinguish tbe flames. IMr. KibSocL sustained a buit, but not senouslj . Mi. Jiiown of the fiim of Biown and Douglas, fell fiom a ladder, and broke out* of bis ribs. John Us dp had a insjliiful wound inflicted on Ins l< j g fiom the falling of a stone that covered the well where be was einplo\ed in rnihing the water. It wiis rumour* d that l\Ir&. ftJarsbnll, whose husband is in Port Phillip, bad lo*t two of her chilmen by tbe file. This is untiue, no lives weielost. The nmount of property deployed is estimated at between 20 and £30,000. Mr. Ki-socL is, wp undcr&tand, hut paitnlly insuied, Mr. Woollen entirely. Tbe otheis aie not insuied. Great cudit is dun to the mditaiy, and indeed to .ill (hecompaniesth.it supei intended the file engines, for their piompt and zealous exertions lendeied on the occasion. It is need-le-s to wiy th.it t!ie puflenis fiom this c.ibunity will have tbe sympathy of the whole community.