THE SHORTLAND FIRE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 234, 25 July 1872, Page 5

THE SHORTLAND FIRE.

Auckland, July 16, Mr J. Perston, secretary of the Kauaeranga Road Board, committed suicide last evening. He blew his brains out with a rifle. The Board sat in an adjoining room, and did not know of it. He was short in the Board's cash about L6O. A meeting of the Shortlaud people re the fire, was called for two o'clock at Butt's Theatre, by Mr Mac Donald, solicitor. It transpired that no one was insured. A fire brigade for Shortknd is on the tapis The fire broke out in Pollen street, Shorbland, this morning, and destroyed more than half the north side of the section of the street between Willoughby street and Grey street. The fire apparently originated in a building used as a bowling alley, near the Melbourne Hotel. A few minutes after the first alarm, which was given about two o'clock, all the ranges were illuminated. A great crowd had assembled in the streets, and the inhabitants of the houses in the greatest danger got out in their night dresses, and saved almost nothing. Those furt ler r moved from the fire worked ha d to save thsir furniture. The merchandise from the various stores ia a few minutes formed a continuous pile that stretched along the length of the street. A determined a tempt was made to save the near houses on the opposite side to tue fire, by pulling down the shop of Knight the butcher. Axes were strongly plied but the timber was slow to yie'd. A rope was t' en obtained, and the building pulled pieeerneal into the middle of the street. The wind blowing from the north-west, carried the flames towards the sea, On the Grey street end the critical point was to save the building formerly, occupied by the Bank of New Z. aland. The fire burned very fiercely at the shop next to it, but some young fellows climbed on the roof, and buckets were passed up from two large tanks, and the battle with the flames determinedly won. The whole of the west side of the street from the Bank of New Zealand on the south, to the Black Forest butchery on the north, was literally reduced to ashes. The following houses were consumed :—: — Two or three belonging to Mr Driver ; the house in which Mr Macgregor, golicitor, formerly had an office; Harrison's Melbourne boarding house; Mart's boot shop and house adjoining, also hi? property ; Mr Whitehead's house ; H ale's shop j Hurley's boot shop and dwelling house ; Bowling Alley, together with Blunders watchmaker's shop ; Blundell's dwelling house adjoining the Bowling Alley; Grant, painter's shop and dwelling house ; Mrs Eitchie's two houses, and (ierrish's oyster saloon. The damage is heavy, and will prove fearfully trying on several poor people whose all was comprised in their shops and establishments. The men from the Crown Company rendeied valuable assistance. The Caledonian claim is looking splendid. Several more specimens are to hand. Bayers offer L 35. In the di voice case of Overton v. Overton, a dissolution was granted on the ground of adultery and cruelty.

Wellington, July 17. Owiog to another case of small-pox having broken out yesterday, the Government intend setting apart a building in a secluded position f » • persons suspected of having the small-pox. The s.s. Tararua sailed last night for Lyttelton. Mrs Redman, the mother of the infected child, reported yesterday, is also infected with small-pox. The husband has been working in a butcher's shop up to yesterday afternoon, and attending the family at night. All the family are to be sent to Soames Island to-day. Wanganui, July 17. Tracey, an old solilier, who was wounded at Turoturo-Mokau, was found iv his bed this morning with his throats cut, and his abdomen ripped open. He was removed to the hospital, but is not expected to recover. The public here are excited on a 'couut of the small-pox, The Resident Magistrate has telegraphed to the Government for authority to form a Board of Health. Cromwell, July 17. At the Mayoralty nomination to day the following were proposed : Mr James Taylor, proposed by Mr M'Keliar, schoo master, seconded by Mr Pierce, butcher. Air Michael Fraer, proposed by Mr Grant, builder, seconded by Mr Brown, merchant. The contest will be keen, though the chances are in favor of Mr i?raer. The candidates spukc for over two hours. Wellington, July 18. The Picton Gailvvay works were commenced yesterday without any ceremony. Auckland, July 18. The Rifle match between ten Auckland , Volunteers and ten from th&'Thdmes, was won by the Auckland inenV - The inquiry into the causes of wreck of the Harriet King has concluded. It is decided that it was caused by want of judgment on the part of the master, bnt th.vt there was not sufficient blame to warrant the suspension of his certificate. Caledonians have receded to L2B. The Greou Harp case is still proceeding in the Po'ice Court. It having been reported that 100 Ib. of amalgam had been found in the Green Harp shaft this morning, shares rose from los to 40.5. Jn the Supremo Court, in the case of Wardrop v. Cooper, which was an notion to recover LSOO damages for the non-delivery of some Bismnrk shares, judgment was given for the plaintiff. Caledonians closed this morning at L 26, and Thames at L 6. Thomas Gray, an old settler, was found dead in his own house at Papakura village last night. The body shows maiks of violence. From statements made by his wife to her neighbors, she has been arrested and charged with murder. Caledonians has fallen to L 23. Green Harps are at 255. Wang ah vi, July 19. Mr H. C. Mnndy has sworn a criminal iuformation, alleging perjury by his late employer, Mr If. B. lloberis, solicitor. Napibr, July 19. A man named J. Wliitaker is supposed to have committed suicide. The schooner Alice, of Dunedin, bound for Napier and Ferangahau, has been wrecked at the mouth of tho Perangauau River. The cargo is partly saved, but the vessel will go t> pieces.

Acclland, July 20. The Novelty has arrived after a six days passage from Sydney. Mr Murdoch, luspector of the Bank of New Zealand, is a passenger. The ferry steamer has just returned from the Nebraska with the Health Offi-er for instructions. Captain arding reports that •luring the passages upward or downward he, had uo'sm*H-pi>x. The di ea>e has disap peared at Hono'ulu and . k an Francisco. There was no sickness of any description on the return trip. The authorities are now visiting the ship, and the steamer will proceed up the harbor this afternoon.

Sydni-y. July 14. The steamer Hero is in quarantine. A man named SutclifTe, aged 26, a passenger from -"i uckland by the Hrr.i, was infected with sm -.11 pox, and died. He w.is boarding at Gardner's dining rooms before he left Auckland. The Governor has issued a proclama'ion that all vrs^els from New Zealand, Cuiifornh, or Victoria, sh ill be quarantined till liberated by the health officer. Two ships from Californi-t, and several from New ZealaLXid. are in quarantine.

Wellington, July 20, A new shipping company is being f -l-med in Wellington with a capital of 1-100,000 to purchase six ships, to convey goo 's from England to Wellington, thence to he transhipped to the various ports Ft is proposed that L 50.000 shall be raised here ; whatever balance is not raised here is guaranteed to be raised in London.

Brisbane. The phip Young Australian, from I ondon to Queensland, is a total wreck off Brisbane. No lives were lost. Melbourne, July 13. Oats are firm at 3s. Breadstuff* quiet. Wheit no improvement. At a sugar sale, 701 bags sol I at L 37 10s. per ton. The Elizabeth, from Mauritius, brings 300 bags of sugar, and reports no other vessel loading for the Colonies ; she also reports only 6,000 bags remaining at Mauritius The Assembly meet on the 10th. Mi Francis stated the course the Government propospd to take relative to public business. The Mining on Private Property Bill would be first dealt with"", and the snb'iect'of education in a few weeks. The Estimates would be pushed on at once. He also proposes to obtain a settlement of the Border Customs question as speedily as possible. All vessels from * ew Zealand are quarantined. Four undoubted cases of small-pox have occurred. The existing patients are all isolated. The house where the snnll-pox broke out is only thirty feet square, and was tenanted by fourteen persons. Two deaths are reported. A farmer named Jone3 committed suicide through disappointed love. Later telegrams state that three persons are dead from small-pox, and that four others are lying in a dangerous state. Most of the schools have been dismissed. King of the Ring is freely baokpd for the Sydney Derby, and Cyclops for the Metropolitan.