THE ONEHUNGA FIRE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 62, 18 December 1871, Page 3

THE ONEHUNGA FIRE.

Our Onehunga correspondent sends the following additional particulars of the fire which occurred early yesterday morning :—“ The disastrous fire which occurred on Friday morning, and reported in your paper of that date, was by far the most destructive of any previous fires in this place, and at one time appeared likely to extend much farther. About 20 houses, which arc packed very closely together in Newsome-streot, were on fire in different places several times, and were with difficulty saved, there being a good stiff breeze from the south-west ; other houses, some considerable distance off, also suffered from burning flakes, every roof being as dry as a chip. Too much praise cannot be given to numbers of able and willing assistants, who, by their untiring efforts for a long time saved a large amount of stock, &c., and many buildings, showing that, though there are a few cowardly dastards who originate these calamities, there are numbers anxious to counteract such iniquitous acts. There can be no doubt that the fire was wilfully raised ; at all events, no one had any right to he in the unoccupied building in which it commenced. The Exchange Hotel, the shop occupied by Mr Wilson, and also the large doublefronted one tenanted by Mr Crawford, together with a large extent of out-build-ings, were the property of Mr S. Furley. The large corner building, in which the fire originated, had been insured, but the policy is said to have lapsed some time since. A block of ten dwelling-houses, immediately in the rear of the Custom-house was saved with the greatest difficulty. The total amount o f damage done must exceed £3,000. The machinery for the lighthouse at the Manukau Heads lies now destroyed in the ruins of the Customhouse, when it ought long since to have been doing its duty in preventing calamities by water.” LIST OF INSURANCES. The block of buildings occupied by Mr Furley—seven buildings in the block — was insured in the Royal Insurance Company for £G00; in the Liverpool and London and Globe Fire Insurance Company, in various separate policies, to an aggregate value of £3OO ; in the New Zealand Insurance Company, stock and furniture in the same, to the amount of £IOO, making a total value of £I,OOO in | the block covered by insurance. Mr 1 Crawford’s shop and cottage were in- ! sured' in the Liverpool and London and Globe Fire Insurance Company to the amount of £2OO ; and the store of Air i Hike in the Norwich Union Fire and Life Insurance Company to Hie amount of ' £3OO. Mr Wilson's stock was also ini sured in the New Zealand Insurance j Company to the extent of £2OO. So far ns we have been aide to learn, the above are the different properties which are insured. The total amount of property insured would thus appear to he £1,700. The house in which the fire originated was unoccupied, and had been so for some time, and we believe was uninsured. — J). ,S. Ci'o* i*.

POLICE COURT.— Saturday. Before W. Fraser, Esq., R.M. Drunkenness. —Mary Robinson charged with being drunk in Grey-strect the previous night was fined 10s, or 24 hours’ imprisonment in case of non-payment. Larceny.— John Millan was brought up on warrant charged with stealing a cam* phor-wood box containing clothing and other articles of the total value of £3O the property of Henry Scheldt, of Auckland. The circumstances connected with the robbery and an enumeration of tho several articles stolen bar# been already published.—Mr Bullen said it would bo remembered that this case has been pro viously remanded. He had been in communication with the Inspector of Police in Auckland, and learned that all the wit nesses both for the defence and the prose cution were there, and he would now ask for a further remand until Thursday for flic prisoner to be brought, before the Auckland Bench then.—Mr Miller, who appeared for the prisoner, asked for bail, which was allowed on the same terms as on the former remand. Furious Riding. William Condon Hazard was charged with furious riding in Albert-street on the Bth instant. —The defendant pleaded not guilty.—Alexander McMillan stated that on the above day ho saw the defendant on horseback, going along Albert-street towards the wharf. This was about 8 o’clock p.m. Could not say at what pace lie was going—lie was going at a pretty good speed. Saw him knock down a child. He did not stop to see what damage lie had done, but rode on. Saw the child, a little girl, picked up. She complained of being hurt at the back of tho head.—The defendant said lie did not know he had knocked the child down. It was dark at the time.—Teresa Cunningham. the girl who was run over, stated that she was crossing Albert-street when a horse came suddenly on to her and knocked her over on to her back, and she did not remember anything more except that somebody picked her up and carried her away. Felt considerable pain at tho back of the head for some days after.—By the defendant : I could not say if it was the horse or your foot that knocked me down.—Constable Brennan said on the 9th instant, he saw the defendant in reference to this accident, and the latter then said that he did not know that any harm had been done. That as he was going round the corner his foot might have struck tho girl.—The defendant said he was cantering slowly. The pony was rather fresh, and his foot came in contact with somebody, hut ho did not know that any harm had been done. —The R.M. fined defendant 40s and costs, or in default 14 days’ imprisonment, observing that a great many people were usually congregated about Albert-street at the hour when this occurrence took place, and it was fortunate for defendant that the child was not more seriously injured. Edward Hogan, of Tararn, was charged with furious riding in Pollen-street, on the 12th. —William Adcock, butcher, deposed that on the day above mentioned lie saw defendant rushing along Pollenstreet towards Shorthand. It was about 7 o’clock in the evening. Defendant was galloping apparently as hard as the horse could go. Can’t say whether lie was urging the horse on. There were two or three children in the street, and one of them was knocked over. Witness called out to him. He turned round and galloped away. He did not appear to have much control over the horse, lie was on the footpath part of the time. The child was on the footpath. A few minutes afterwards the defendant fell from the horse, lie was apparently not sober.—By Mr Dodd : Defendant was lying on the horse's back, and had no power over the animal. I’ll swear defendant was drunk. He fell off his horse easily, and got up again directly. Witness told him to go to the father of the child and see what damage lie had done. —Charles Crowbill corroborated tho testimony of the last witness.—Constable Brennan deposed to seeing defendant about 7 p.m. on the day in question. Ho was not sober. Mr Dodd said the case must fail, as the Gazette, containing the proclamation of the extension of the act to Grahamstown had not been produced, hut only an extract from it pasted into a hook.—The R.M. said he would take a note of the objection, and Mr Dodd could go to the Supreme Court, on appeal if he liked, hut lie himself would allow the case to go on. There was an extract from the Gazette, produced, and lie did not wish the defendant, to escape through a frivolous technicality. Mr Dodd then went on to say that the defence in this case was that the horse bolted, aud that defendant had not control over him, in consequence.—John Barron stated he saw the occurrence take place, and believed the accident to be unavoidable. The defendant was trying to hold the horse in, but could not. The animal had bolted. It was a spirited one.—By Mr Bullen ; The horse was coming along “ full tare.” I tried to stop him, hut did not succeed.— John Brown stated that he saw the defendant galloping along Pollen-street. The defendant was apparently doing all he could to stop the horse, but could not.— The R.M. said he considered the case clearly proved. Surely if women and children were safe anywhere, they should he when on the footpath ; and it was his duty to protect the public. It was clear defendant was not in a fit state te be on a horse at the time. Defendant must pay a fine of £5 and £1 19s costs, or, in default, one month’s imprisonment. He (the R. M.) had made a note of Mr Dodd’s objection, so that defendant might have the full benefit of it, if he liked to proceed on appeal.—The fine was paid, and we understand there will be no appeal. Assault. John Boyle was charged with assaulting William Douglass by striking him with a whip. When the case was called on neither of the parties appeared, and it was struck out.