DUNEDIN.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 372, 11 July 1874, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

{From our own Correspondent.)

Following close on the fire at Mr. A. B. Hay's premises, tho block in Princes-street opposite the old "Daily Times" 'office had a rather narrow escape yesterday morning, th& premises of Mr. H. S. Fish being the immediate locale of the fortunately arrested calamity. One of the men who opened the shop on the morning m question, smelt something burning, and on making a voyage of discovery to find out (he cause, he cam& across a wooden box in a storeroom' at the back part of the shop, in which were t, quantity of lignite ashes. These had burnt » hole through" the bottom of the box and ignited the floor underneath, the fire having a considerable hold when the man discovered it. It wae exceedingly fortunate that he came in at the moment he- did, for- underneath this storeroom there is a lower -room in which is kept a stock of paper hangings and painters* materials, and had the fire got through tha floor and got a firmv hold amongst these, nothings could IjavS saved Mr. Fiah's premise* sad ihdae Buwonn&ng.ii fooi* desWttct&a»

it the in.quest which w&b held into the cause ••*fritke'lhVafc' 7 M-r\ Hay's premises, the jury added a rider to the open verdit which they . . , brought in, to the- effect that it was necessary .•1 • . to'tlie;suMo aifety: tliat Inieiness people should Beo that the fires on their premises xren properly extinguished before leaving at night, and this present instanca-'ihov.'s how necessary it is that attention should be paid' to the ©piuion which the jury in- question ' gave. Lignite ashes are' dangerous ia the ~^Bxtrem& owing-- to the .length of time v.hich i!hey retain- heat, and no doubt to them ■might tairlylJe ascribed many of the fires in town which have remained such mysteries. . A series of revival meetings in a mild form ' 'is at present being held at the' Masonic Hall. , < They have been attended by very large .audiences, the. hall on each , evening being crowded' to suffocation, and many obliged to. leave without gaining admission. Special prayers are offered up on behalf of objects and institutions, the, suggestions being handed to the chairman by the audience. Judging from' the apparent fervor and earnestness of the persons who attend, the hall seems likely %o be filled to 6verflowing during the remainder of the reason. ' How would a special 1 * ' prayer for the bestowal of increased charity and brotherly love on the late Clutha Presbytery belligerent do ? There seems ample r6om for such, a prayer forming the staple Subject at the next meeting. ■ ' There has been a good deal of talk in town , over the proposed granting of, about 400 acres ■ < of bush' land at one of . the sounds at the . .West Coast^o a Mr.'J." Harding, ostensibly "" ' ' for* the purpose of encouraging the .establishment of a fish-civ-ing establishment there, ' but which ' it has been rumored is in reality ( Only a blind to secure the bush for sawmilling purposes. A gentleman already 'largely interested in the latter pursuit is credited with being at ' the bottom of the application. , This statement has, .-however,' since received a denial, the busti in, question, it' is' asserted by the applicant, being nothing ■ ' "*3oi"o, than light Jjimb'cr and scrub. The -""inatter is apt yet settled, and no doubt the Waste Lands Board wUl'take care that they • tnake every enquiry without committing them- . selves in the matter.. ' . '„