[From the Southern Cross, January 8.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 264, 9 February 1848, Page 3

[From the Southern Cross, January B.]

Destructive Fire. — It is with much regret that we have to report the total destruction by fire of the Church Mission prem ses at Kohi-marama, occupied by the Rev. G. A. Kissling. The origin of this disaster is sti.l, we be ieve, buried in mystery, and there are many who thiiik that it is to be attributed to design rather than accident. It seems that on Sunday last, while Mr. Kissling was absent on ministerial duty, some of the family discovered a part of the store, a detached building, to be on fire. The alarm was given and every exertion made by those who were on the premises to arrest the progress of the flames, but in vain. The fire spread with such rapidity, the buildings being roofed with thatch, as to baffle every attempt made to extinguish it. Providentially no lives were lost, though Mrs. Kissling in attempting to save some important papers, narrowly escaped being burnt. The loss to Mr. and Mrs. Kissling has been most severe. Furniture, books, clothing. — indeed every thing has been destroyed. Mrs. Kempthorne also has suffered severely ; her house, a raupo building, stood detached, separated by a plantation of acacias, and would in all probability have been saved, had it not been tor the strong wind blowing at the time. Some few articles were saved, but the bulk also of her effects have been destroyed. It is said that Mr. Kissling's family suspect the natives as being the incendiaries ; we know not upon what particular grounds, and we can hardly reconcile such an idea with the attachment and esteem of the natives generally towards Mr. Kissling, unless indeed it is the work of some strangers. There is, however, a mystery about it which will perhaps never be unravelled. We must not omit to notice the praiseworthy conduct oi William Hobson, a native chief who resides in the immediate vicinity, when he heard of the loss his pastor had sustained, he sent a supply of several hundred baskets of potatoes. Such an act of attention, at such a time, must have been peculiarly gratifying to the sufferers.