SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 821, 29 November 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT, j 4> AUCKLAND. November 2S. The fact that members appointed on the Royal Commission re education from Auckland are all chosen from those who voted for religious education evokes considerable comment here. The result of the mayoral election was a complete surprise to Mr. Cosgrave's supporters, who made sure of winning up to the very hour for closing the poll, and offered long odds in his favor. Before the result of the poll was declared many to' "ted him as mayor. When it was announced that he

was defeated by 32 his supporters appeared considerably chopfallen. A strong opposition is being got up against the street hoardings. To-day a petition was -presented to the Council against the longer maintenance of the South British hoarding on the ground that it seriously injures the trade of the adjacent shops. A woman named Dora Austin, who has frequently been before the Police Courb, while walking along Grey-street last night suddenly staggered, and, as if seized with intense pain, caught hold of the paling and cried, " Oh, God ! I am dying." She fell and died in a few minutes.

Another fire occurred this morning in Lower Hobson-street, by which a twostor.yed dwelling-house owned and occupied by Mr. Henry Keesing, jim., was destroyed. Mr. Keesing and family had retired to rest at the usual hour last night, when there was no appearance of fire. At exactly 5 o'clock this morning Miss Robinson awoke noticing the room filled with smoke. The members of the family were speedily alarmed. It was then observed that flames were issuing from a lean-to at the rear of the building. Mr. Keesing, his sons, and several neighbors obtained some buckets and attempted to extinguish the Hames, but the lire had obtained too strong a hold on the building to be easily overcome. Jt entered the house by one of the rear windows, and the building was speedily- one mass of flames, and the roof partially fallen in. The outside framework of the house, which was a wooden one, has been left standing, although the inside was completely burned out. A number of neighbors and others worked energetically, saving the furniture, a considerable amount of which was removed. The Naval Company, which was formed into a search party for the purpose of discovering any articles of value from the debris, had been at work some time when they were horrified by an exclamation from Seaman Murphy which brought his comrades to his side. Following the direction of his transfixed gaze they saw a portion of what was evidently a dead body lying srnongst the ashes. Sticks were procured, and with these the surrounding debris was cleared away. It was then ascertained that their conjecture that it was a dead body was quite correct, but further examination tlicited the fact that it was that of a valuable poodle dog which had been locked up in the house. The body of another animal was subsequently discovered, but as it was considerably charred and burnt it could not be identified, although it was believed to be that of another dog or cat. The building was insured in the Norwich Union Insurance Company for L3OO, but the furniture was not insured. The loss is estimated at considerably more than the insurance, and will amount to nearly LI 000.