GREAT FIRE AT SANDRIDGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 290, 24 November 1862, Page 6

GREAT FIRE AT SANDRIDGE.

(From the Argus, November 14.,)

The most extensive conflagration which has occurred in the neighbourhood ot Melbourne for some years past took place at Sandrirfge, yesterday afternoon. In the short space oi two hours,'an entire block, from one main street to another, was laid waste! Twenty-five buildings—houses, shops, and merchant' stores -including some of the most substantial erections in the municipality, were destroyed, without the occupiers heing able to save a tithe of their moveable property, The scene of the conflagration is the block formed by Beach-street on the south, Railway-place- and Stoke-street on the west and east, and a right-of-way connecting these latter streets on the north. At the corner of Railway-place, it will be remembered, stood a large white building known as Gavton's Hotel, Stewart and Carrick's ship-chandlers' stores adjoined ; and fronting the Bay were the bluestone stores of Messrs Ingles, Adam and Gresham, and a continuous row of out-fitting and ironmongery establishments, the principal shops in the town. At the rear were a number of wooden cottages, outbuildings, and the .storing-yards of the firms mentioned.- These latter were filled with combustible materials. The fire originated at the north-west corner of the block, the junction of the right-of-way with Kaihvay-place, inawcodftn cottnge occupied by a boatman named Watson. How it was caused lias yet to be ascertained. Various rumors are in circulation, the most probable of which is one attributing the result to some sparks irorn an adjacent blacksmith's forge alighting on the roof. The day was fearfully hot, and, as .the .colonists know to their cost, it needs but little after a burning sun has been shining on a.shingle roof for hours to set it in a blaze. However this may be, the flames spread with extraordinary rapidity. The blacksmith's shop adjoining speedily caught, and simultaneously the ships' stores at the rear were seized upon. The Emerald-hill Fire Brigade arrived early on the spot, and the Melbourne Brigade were also speedily down, bringing with them a large quantity of hose. The municipal engine was brought into play; and the engine belonging to the Hobson's Bay iiailway Company rendered good service. Unfortunately t\e supply of water was limited. There was scarcely a sufficient pressure of Van Yean to force the liquid through the hose ; and before anything could be done to remedy this evil, the fire had acquired too great a hold to be subdued. Fanned by the strong northerly breeze which was blowing, and feeding on the most i combustible of materials, the flames licked up everything before it. On they went with a crackling roar, leaping over heaps of stores, tar, timber, and cordage, and progressing with such rapidity that in Ipss than twenty minutes from the time the alarm was given, the houses in Beach-street were' enveloped, and the inmates had to fly for their lives. Scarcely any of the people had time to save the smallest portion of their property. The clerks at Stewart and Garrick's removed the books of the firm, and. some furniture was taken from Garton's Hotel ; but most of the cottagers and the shopkeepers lost their all, and in many, instances the women had to escape without their bonnets. Extensive as former conflagrations have been at Sandridge, thi3 eclipsed them all. The body of flame from the burning block was immense, though the broad light of the glaring sun dimmed, the hideous glare. The wind drove the flame and smoke seawards, and so heated were the blasts of air by their passage through the mass of fire,that it was impossible to stand on the beach opposite them.' Indeed, so great was the heat, that flickers of flame were soon noticed among the, stores lying on the beach - ships' masts, cordage, boats, &c, and speedily they also were blazing. The smoke, as it drifted out to sea lay in a heavy mass on the waters of the bay, completely shutting the shipping and pier out of sight. This portion of the spectacle could be seen some miles off. At the racecourse it .was plainly visible, and many of the sufferers who were enjoying the sport there received the first intimation of their, disaster in this manner, and hastened back to find their homes in rains.

The brigades did all that they could, but they jnrere baffled to a great extent by;the want of a pressure of water. Ho waver, all the jets they could have brought to play would have been ineffectual to save the buildings on the block. The only thing to be done was to prevent the conflagration extending beyond its limits. The stone house occupied by Mr Buteman assisted to check the progress of; the* flames on the west side of Stoke-street, and the Emerald hill and Railway engines were set to play on the Freemasons' Hotel and Councillor Pickles' workshops, on the east side. The dull glow reflected in the windows of the buildings here, and the hissing arid- sputtering of the water tbirewn upon them showed; the imminence of the danger they wereexposed to; but fortunately the vigorous efforts made to save them were successful; The ; 6nly; way the '■■ conflagration had 'of spreading farther was by crossing Stoke-streefc, as -V'there are no houses to: the east of Railway-place; Theflames were driven by the from the building at the north of the block,' and every thing to the south -had-already fallen a prey -to the devastating; element. By about five o'clock the fire had done its worst. The front ot Garton's Hotel was standing, but the house was gutted; and saving Mr Buteman's resi-

dence, at the north-east corner, nothing remained on the spot, which so short a time previonsly had been crowded with tenements, but the skeleton of Ingles, Adam and Greshani's store and a few brick walls With reference to the loss by this .fire, we may quote tne following from the Argus of the 15'h • • The loss by the late fire at Sandridge is very serious. It is calculated at L40,0G0. The assurances amount to L 20.000. The Victoria loses L 4,000; the Australasian, L 3,000 ; and the Alliance about L 2,000. Had the wind been from the southwest, it is probable that the damnge done would have been still greater. The whole of the claims against the Australasian-office were settled yesterday.

ELECTION OF MAYOR. There was a numerous attendance of citizens yesterday at the Town Hall to witness the election of. Mayor tor the ensuing year, and the proceedings appeared to excite considerable interest. As the hue Mayor—Mr. Hennett—was absent, Aid. Eades was e.ected chairman. Messrs. Hill and Harbison were next appointed as scrutineers, and the election was proceeded with. The candidates were three in num- ' A^TA 1? J' T- nSmiUl' Cr- Walsh > au<* Cr. Cohen. As all the councillors were not present, the eV.tion was not decided, as is the custom, until one hour after its commencement. When the time expired the Chairman counted the cards, and found Mr Cohen to be elected Mayor. In his favor 10 voted • for Aid. Sm;th 5; and for Cr. Walsh 2— Aae November 11. " * '

From the Argns. November 15. The northerly gale of this mornimr was of sufficient force to put a stop to business in the~bay and at the stores. It wo 3 muud almost impossible to discharge vessels, and loading up the country was entirely suspended lor some three or four hours. Purchasers have operated in small parcels and speculation has set mto some extent. Malt has been in demand, and holders o\ new samples are asking from 10s 3d to iOs 6d per bushel. In hops, the speculative movement whica commenced before the arrival of the mail, has been increased, although with but little improvement in prices. Corn Packs are in good inquiry and sales to some amount have been effected, the price not having transpired, the same buyers being still ?n the market. There has been inquiry for Adelaide flour to some consider.l We extent, but the prices offered are repotted to be so low as to prevent transactions. Oats are in lessened inquiry, and somewhat easier in price. Several sales of tobacco are reported privately, but the condition has not been such as to afford guiding prices for good marketable parcels. Sugars, notwithstanding tne late excessive arrivals, are firm, the rates obtained by auction t>day showing an advance on the prices of the last public sales. By auction, Me.*srs (Jreig and Murray offered the cargo of Mauritius sugars, ex Ma«eate, and disposed of over 4,000 bags at the subjoined rates :—Grey crystals, L 35 to L 36 : good colory counters, L 32 to L 33 10s ; low brown, L2B 10s ; and davk rations, L*2o 17s 61 per ton. The same firm also placed 200 cases currants, at the Spencerstreet railway station,- at 4d per lb, with all faults ; and, at tha'Hobsou'sßay ltu'lway Station, a pircel of Kern; hops 1861, with all faults, at from 11^1 to 131 per lb in bond. Messrs Fraser and Cohen disposed of a considerable parcel of tobacco, at Hughe's Wharf, at the following: prices:—Aromatic twist at 2s Gd, Oyler and Kean's twist at 2s sd, W. F. Flipper's golden bar at 2s 9J, Katie Sclmyier brand at 2s BJ, and C. D. Vernon's twist at 2s 9i per lb in bond. The same firm :il*b placed at their rooms yesterday, the entire cargo of the Ecliptic, from Mauritius, comprising some 0,300 bags sugar. In the stock and share market rhe following sales are reported :— Victoria Government Debentures, six per cent, LIOB ; Colonial Bank of Australasia shares atXslos; Buninyoug mining shares, LBO. By the Wonga Wonjra we have Adelaide papers to the I2t!i just. The following is the latest market report.:—

" Register Office, Nov. 11. " Flour. —Price remains aliout the same—Lll 10s to Ll2 5s per ton. A sale orh'fty tons, town brand,- has been made to Sydney order at Ll2 2s 6.1 per ton. " Wheat.—Transactions have taken place at 5s 2d per bushel at the Port; 4s 9d to 4s lOd is the price in town.

" Copper. -Tlip South Australian Mmmc Association, at their meeting this day, raised the price to L9l per ton at the Port."