THE EVENING MAIL. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 360, 19 June 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1877.

The late destructive fire at Lyttelton, by which considerable damage was occasioned to certain railway works to the amount of £IO,OOO, points a moral. It was only by the greatest good fortune that the disastrous results were not greater. To the strong westerly wind that was blowing at the time is this due rather than to any forethought on the part of those whose business it was to prepare for such an emergency. It appears that there were none of the usual appliances on the spot for the extinguishment of the devouring element, and that the fire was therefore allowed to burn itself out. That it would have consumed the railway sheds on the other side of the line but for the favouring breeze there can be no doubt. Here is an instance in which the care that would have been exercised by private individuals over property of similar value has been entirely neglected by the Government. Everybody seemed to be in a state of panic, and every means resorted to with the object of coping with the difficulty had the appearance of being a "forlorn hope," and indeed it was worse. Why among other expedients the demented population didn't raise the proprietors of the several toy-shops, purchase their toy cannons, and fire them off, with the object of bursting the clouds upon the scene of the disaster, we know not; as this course would have been almost as sensible as wiring to Christchurch for a fire-engine, or despatching messengers through the tunnel for assistance. They should never have placed themselves in the position of relying upon Christchurch for aid. There is another important feature which must not be lost sight of in connection with the disaster. It appears that assistance was sought from Christchurch by means of the telegraph, but without success. There was no response from the Christchurch office to the Lyttelton operator's tattoo. The question is, "Is it the duty of one of the operators to sleep in the office 1" We presume that it is so, or it would not have been attempted to procure assistance through this means. In this case not a little of the blame would attach to the telegraph department, and we trust that the delinquent, whoever he may be, will be called upon to give an explanation of his conduct, although it is questionable whether, under the circumstances, any assistance from Christchurch would have arrived in time to be of much service. It is obvious that access should be had to at least the principal telegraph stations throughout the Colony at all hours, in order that, in cases of urgency, assistance may be obtained. If the Government has made such a provision, and it has not been complied with by the operator at Christchurch, then upon that official rests the onus of having probably been the cause of unnecessary loss to the Government. It is to be hoped that a strict enquiry will be instituted into the matter, as apart from the heavy loss to the Government, the loss and inconvenience that will probably accrue to those who had goods in the shed will be considerable.