TELEGRAMS

Patea Mail, 5 January 1882, Page 3

TELEGRAMS

• This Day. (per united press association.) GREAT FIRE AT INVERCARGILL. ENORMOUS LOSS OP PROPERTY. Invercargill, Wednesday.—A tremendous conflagration occurred here last evening, resulting in the destruction of a large amount of valuable property. The fire originated, it is believed, in a shop on the western side of Dee street, occupied by Mrs Hanna, and it rapidly spread to adjoining buildings. An extensive warehouse at the corner of Dee and Spey streets was in imminent danger, but the fire brigade averted its destruction. The warehouse is the property of Messrs W. Paesley & Co,, and was formerly occupied by Guthrie & Larnach. Many windows were broken by the intense heat, at more than two chains distance from the burning buildings. Considerable damage has been done to stocks in shops. Other buildings on the same side of the street had a narrow escape. The fire broke out at 10 o’clock, and at midnight when the telegraph office closed, the following buildings had been destroyed :—City Butchery (occupied by F. Campbell), Mrs Hanna’s grocery store, the Hibernian Hotel, Mr D. Roche’s grocery and spirit store, an unoccupied building, (Red Lion Hotel), McCluskey boot shop, Hanan’s Temple of Science, W. Brown’s drapery store, and Cooper’s jewellery shop, Messrs Cooper & Brown occupied a portion of Hanan’s building. At midnight the fire was raging with unabated fury, and in order to save the remainder of the block strenuous efforts were being made to pull down the shops occupied by J. Rogers (tailor), W. Peterson (bootmaker), and A. Raeside (pastrycook). It was hoped that by having adopted this course, that the White Swan Hotel could be saved and buildings to northward of it also. The brigade worked well, but were hampered by scarcity of water. Great excitement prevailed. The loss must be something enormous; at a rough guess, £25,000. The insurances fall far short of this, but the amounts were not obtainable during the confusion.

Latest Details. Invercargill.—The fire was got under by 1.30 a.m. The White Swan hotel was saved with great difficulty. The insurances already known amount to £7,200. Is it a Wreck ? Dunedin, —The police are taking ho action in regard to a bottle found on Waikouaiti beach, asking for assistance to shipwreck off Cape Saunders. The thing is probably a hoax. Fire Inquest. Havelock.—The inquest re the late fire at the Masonic Hotel and Smith’s store was held yesterday. Verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. The Governor. Wellington.-—H.M.S. Emerald was expected to leave Sydney on the 31st December for Wellington, reaching here about the 10th of this month. It is understood she will take the Governor either to Fiji or Sydney. Trade of the Colonies. Wellington —The total Customs’ revenue collected in the colony for the 'nine months ending December, amounted to £1,074,749, being about £66,000 over the estimate. Stabbing at Opunaki. New Plymouth.—John Young Henry, coach-driver, was brought up before the Court this morning, on a charge of stabbing a man named Millet at Opunake on Sunday. Mr Samuel appeared for Henry. The case is now going on.