SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 827, 7 December 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[from our own correspondent.]

AUCKLAND.

December 6.

A new two storey house in Pitt-street, owned by Captain Elliott, but which was not quite finished, was destroyed by fire this morning. The contractor (Mr. Wright) held a policy of insurance in the Colonial Insurance Company for L4GO. His contract amounted to LGoO, and nearly all the work had been completed. The Fire Brigade arrived at the scene promptly, but their exertions were directed to saving the adjoining two storey house, the outer wall of which was almost destroyed, but the remainder was little injured. The fire was arrested by the aid of a plentiful supply of water. The supposed cause of the fire is a vagrant who was sleeping in the building. Messrs. Coupland and Co. report : —Flour, Adelaide, LIS ; Southern, LlO to Lll ; bran (bags included), LG ; sharps (overstocked), L 6 : oats, 4s Gd to 4s i)d ; milling wheat, 4s 9d ; fowl wheat, 4s ; Canterbury hams and bacon (in cloth), Sid.

CHRISTCHURCH. December 6,

The Rev. Dr. Roseby, Messrs. Adams and Jago, and other Good Templars, have engaged in a grand crusade against intemperance. The Rev. Mr. Smalley announced in Church that it was the intention of women in Sydenham Borough to sit down before all drinking shops, and by their prayers and psalms to shut them up. The surveys of most of the town sections in Christchurch turns out to be wrong, and special legislation is necessary to correct them.

The Railway Department here have the finest steam fire engine in the Colony, but at two fires lately in its immediate vicinity its use was refused to the City Brigade, to the great loss of property. It is freely asserted that it is kept lay no organisation but by persons possessing no knowledge of how to use the engine themselves. The only time it was used it broke down. Miss Amy Sherwin'a final concert last night was attended by an enthusiastic audience. She left by rail for the South this morning. The land sales have received a great cheek lately.

The weather continues dry and intensely hot, and :ears for the crops increase daily. Mr. Macfarlane's address excites great ridicule.