AUCKLAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 8, Issue 379, 18 February 1864, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

The following is an account of the building erected for the Union Bank of Australia, abridged from the New Zealander. The frontage to Queen-stret occupies a sp ice of teet to Victoria-street- 117 feet. The height of the building is 48 feet. The - peculiarities of the locality rendered it necessary to lay the foundations some depth below the level of Queen-street, and to construct strong arches which form capital cellars. The base of the building is formed .of massive scoria blocks, selected with great „

care from Mount Eden and Newmarket. Their dark and solid outline conveys at once the idea of solidity and durability. Above this, to the height of the windowsill, is a course of Bath stone, properly worked. The remainder of.the building is constructed of brick. The sides fronting the streets are cased with Portland cement, which wheo dry enough, .will be painted in imitation of stone-work. The front comprises a portico and two wings ; the former 38 feet in length, 7| feet iu width, and 30 feet, in height. The entablature, surmounted by a handsome balustrade, is supported by two pilasters and four columns, peculiar to the Corinthian order, the capitals of which are elaborately adorned ; the shafts of the columns are not fluted, and'have a diameter of 2 feet 9 inches. Betwen each column is a flight of stone steps leading to the portico. There are three windows under the portico, and four larger ones in each of the wing. The principal windows are supported by an entablature supported by ornamental trusses, and are further enriched by carved pilaster's. In front of the windows are ornamental castiron window guards. The . principal entrance is from the centr e of the portico, through large folding doors of Kauri timber, and lined with iron. The banking office is a most noble room,. 39 feet by 25 feet-, with a height of' 30 feet, An ornamental Etruscan string course is carried round the room, givitiga relief to the extensive wall space which is terminated bv a decorated cornice. It

is lighted hy six windows, which are decorated in a similar manner to those on the outside. The fittings of polished cedar for carryingmn the financial department are as convenient as well can be. On the left is a department for the ledger clerks, and ou the right hand the bill department. At each end of the building are desks for the convenience of visitors. In the rear qf fc he large room, and connected with it by a large ai-ch, is the Accountant’s room The sides and crown of the arch are pannelled, and hear af near an approach to white marble as is possible. The material is said to be .Keen’s cement. Adjoining this room ifj a room for bank stationery, and further on, with an entrance to the right-hand side, is the “ strongroom.” It is perfectly ftro-proof, and is constructed on tye most modern principles, and with all recoguised improvements. The Manager’s room is in the right wing, on the ground-floor. Between this and the strong room is a staircase leading to the Inspectqr’s-ro.om, which is above the Manager’s, and another room for the use of the Inspector’s clei’k; also, a retiring room farthe clerks and other officers, ■The left wing of the building, and the range pf rooms facing Victoria-street, ai'e destined for the Manager’s private residence.

Mr. Terry of Melbourne is the Architect • Mr. Charles Brown of “Melbourne the builder ; and the cost has been from £9,000. to £IO,OOO. The New Zealand Insurance have declared a dividend of ten per cent, per annum for the last half-year, and adde.d £3,179,95|7d to to the reserve fund which now amounts to £15,000. The profits for tbfc half year are. £8,564, 12s lid. The sand &t Manukuu bus been analysed and found, similar in quality to that at Taranaki. The analysis gives Titanic acid 5.5,0. Silicia and loss 5.45, oxides, of iron 88.99, A year ago, Mr. Joseph Newman, imported 2 rams and 3 ewes of Mr. Kirkham’s celebrated Lincoln flock. One of the rams was put' to 50 ewes at Gtahuhu. The increase wbs 47 lambs, of wfaioh 24 were, ra,ms. and of these Mr. Newman, has sold 20 for £lO each.

canterbury.. The races came of op, the 19th 2Qth and 21st ult. ' Mr. Leach’s Viscount won. the Maiden Plate. Mr. Mooney’s Rob Roy gained the Lottery Plate, and the. Grand -Stand Plate. Mr. Lance’s Golden Cloud carried off'the Canterbury Cup from Mr. Redwood’s Lady Bird, which came in first for the Ladies’ Pui’se. The match between Mr. Wakefield’s Cx*eepmouse and Major White’s Peri for 100/ was gained by the former, which also gained the Peer Cup given by Mr. Wakefield. The Joe Miller- Cup. was won by Mr. Rule’s Eleanor ; the Derby Stakes by Mr. Stafford’s Opera i the Tryo Stakes hy the same gentleman’s Regina ; and a match, for JPOZ between Major White’s Peri, and Messrs. Lee’s Joan of Arc was by Peri. The weather was fine and the races satisfactory. Lady Bird was much admired ; and the judges considered that had she been entered for the Ballarat.Champion Race, she would have bet Barwon. Golden Cloud is almost her equal, and he and Lady Bird were offered for sale by auction, a.fc Christchurch after the races, but. with high reserved prices. Arrangements are being made for an inter-colonial Champion Race at Canterbury, to come off in January 1865, on the same conditions as elsewhere, viz. lOOZ stakes with 1000 Z added. The subscriptions to the other races are expected to be 1000/. We lenrn’by the following extract from the Nelson Colonist of the 19fch ult, that the Canterbury government is aive to the necessity of exploring : Mr. John Rochforb, of this place, whose appointment as Assistant Surveyor for the Government of Conterbury we announced last week, proceeds to-day from Nelson to the West Coast for the purpose of exploring the coast on and about the Grey River. He has on behalf of the Canterbury Government chartered the schooner Mary, of this port, to take down the explorer, and his staff, and provisions, and; remain at his disposal so long as may be deemed necessary. The foundation stone of a new Wesleyan Chapel was laid on the 28th ult. by tb ; e Superintendent, who, in a short speech, wished every success to the undertaking and to the Wesleyan, Church. The Rev. Mr. Aldred gave a short account of Wesleyanism. The Church is to cost 10,000/; and is to be ready in January 1865. The All-Euglaiid Eleven arrived here on the 6th inst. They were received in great style at Christchurch on. the Sfch, beiug received by the Superintendent and City Council, entertained with wine and speeches in the Town-hall, and driven round the town in a coach and. six. The next mail; will bring the result of the match between them, and the Canterbury Twenty two,

OTAGO.. The All-England Eleven landed at Tort Chalmers on Monday the Ist inst., and after a veiy cordial reception and the presentation of several addresses, proceeded to Dunedin in a coach and six, escorted by several Cricket Clubs in coaches and four,, and by a party on horseback, the charms of music being added by the Provincial Band. The reception i ; n Dunedin was enthusiastic, beating anything of the kind they had had in Victoria, The match between them and the Twenty-two of Otago was played on the Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and ended as anticipated, in an easy victory to the Eleven who won with nine wickets to go down.

On Thursday-evening a more interesting match, was begun between the Eleven, and a united Twenty-two of Otago and Canterbury, with Mr. T. \V. Mills from Victoria, one of the best gentlemen players south of the line, as Captain- The time did not allow the match to be finished, which was therefore drawn, “ Had it been continued,” says the fVitness qf the 6th inst,, “ there is every reasou to believe the Colonial team might have been victorious, and thus secured the first victory of the tour.”

GREAT FIRE AT DUNEDIN. A serious fire took place on Tuesday, the 3rd inst. '1 he alarm was given at a quarter after seven in the morning. The fire commenced, so far as present information tends to show, somewhere in the rear of the premises of Messrs. G. and H. Hart, general merchants, near the top of Stafford-street, and on the southerly side. But what originated the conflagration eaiinot be guessed ; as the store, which was of wood, was closed between twelve and one o’clock, and remained so till after the alarm, Tire Fire Brigade were on the spot promptly with an engine ; but there was the old and terrible difficulty as to water ; the flames spread mercilessly, and soon they enveloped the building. The other engines and apparatus were brought up at a run by membei’s of the Volunteer Brigade and other volunteers, and there was a praiseworthy willingness to do, and in doing, what was possible, on the part of quite as m*Oty men as could usefully woidc. Adjoining Messrs Hart’s premises, on the higher side, were those of Messrs, Messrs, Royse, Mudie, and Co., who "carried on an extensive business as merchants, in addition to .being agents for the Vessels of Messrs. McMeckan and Blackwood, of Melbourne. There was a very heavy stock of goods in their place, and upon its bulk scarcely any impression could be made befoi’e the flames had exfeuded to the huilding. On the lower side of Messrs. Hart’s was the shop of Mr. James Mills, gunmaker, and it was blazing very soon after Messrs. Royse, Mudie, and Co.’s premises ; but what powder there was in the shop had been got away to a safe distance before this time, and Mrs. Mills and her children were also safely away.

The conflagration now looked likely to be terribly destructive, for the stillness of the atmosphere gave place to a slight motion ; and while it was impossible to predict from which quarter the breeze would come, it was plain that if it came from the north or east, the whole of the great block bounded by Stafford-street, Hope street, Walker-street, and Pi’iucesstreet must, in all probability, be destroyed.

Almost at the same moment, the flames extended downwards to the shop of Mr. Merrie, tailor, and upward to three small buildings ocoupied by Mr. W. Lang, restaurant keepei', Mr. T. Oakenful, boot maker, and Mr. J. J. Moran, storekeeper. Already the extensive bonded store belonging to Mr.. Casper, which fronted Hope Street, and extended to a considei’able depth, was burning. Ihe wind fortunately did not grow strong, and what there was of it now showed d c’dedly that it was coming from the S. W., and so tending to limit the fire, unless indeed the breadths of Stafford and ITope streets could be overleaped. The former had indeed been all but passed. The stoi’e of Messrs. Youngman and Co., opposite Messrs. Royse Mudie and Go’s, smoked freely as the wooden front was dried by the scorching heat. But the jet fi’omone of the engines was turned ou it and averted the danger in that quarter. The sight about this time was grandly terrific. The burniug stores contained so •many highly inflammable compounds—including spirits, and kerosene and other oils, as well as saltpetre and miscellaneous drysaltries— -that the flames were not only constantly -/shooting up to gx'eat heights, always accompanied by an intensified glare ; but the compounds lent rich hues and tints to those greater flames, which made the whole look like some Cyclopean pyrotechnic display. But most happily, the quarter whence the slight wind came gave time—and time only could enable something effectual to be done to check the spread of the fii'e. Messrs Mills, Dick, and Co.’s offices ignited "while the types, presses, etc. were being got out ; but, at last, all the arrangements for pulling them down wei’e completed, and out the front was pulled to the effectual demolition of the whole. The debris was cleared off, and there was room to hope that Messrs Tickle’s place was saved.

But still danger threacened in another direction, Mr. Coleman’s store was burning more fiercly than any of those already destroyed, and the flames were hissing and crackling about and from Mr. Caspers in a wav which showed that its combustion would be still more vivid and t rapid. Happily their progress was stopped by pulling down five or six erections. The remains of Mr. Caspei-’s store were one great of embers and flame, evidently containing matei’ials for two or three days’ burning ; there was more or less of fire over an area of probably sixty yards by eighty yards; but one could staud near the bxuk formed by the pavement of Stafford-sti-eet, and have the melancholy satisfaction of feeling that the worst was known, or was visible. The value of the contents of Mr. Casper’s store were variously estimated at from of).000/ to- 10€,000Z or more. The ownership of the store was about to be transferred, if it had not . actually been, done. We have heal'd the names of tw.o gentlemen as those of the transferee, and we therefore hesitate to publish either. To what extent the goods were insured can hardly be learned for a day or two j

but it was said last evening. that Mr. Oleve had only yesterday morning com.pleted the insurance for '2OOO/ of a com signmpnt of oats which lay in the place. Messrs. Hart’s stock was estimated to be worth between 7000/ and 8000/, and they are insured far something over 3000/. Of the respective losses of the other sufferers we could not learn anything ii| the confusion which prevailed last nfghfi; and we shall be glad to receive lnforma : tion, from those who alone can give it, of the estimated values of the stocks and buildings destroyed, aixd the extent *to which they were insured. We fear that our own estimate at the outset, that the damage Will amount to 100,000/, will prove considerably under the mark. We have not' heard of any serious accident during the fire. FURTHER PARTICULARS. The safe belonging to Messrs. Hart, and that of Messrs. Royse Mudie and Co. were opened early yesterday morning. The books and papers in them were found to be quite preserved. Messrs. Henningham and Co. proprietors of the Evening Stay.” having rescued their hooks, had them stolen in the confusion. The bonded store spoken of af? Gasper’s was really the property pf Mr. W: Pole, who was also the owner qf several thousand pounds worth of goods therein. The sale of the store was effected very lately indeed. Mr. Pole, we regret to say, has suspended payment and called a meeting at his creditors. .As to the total loss we were assured yesterday that it is not over-estimated at £IOO,OOO.

It may, with certainty be stated, that Messrs. Dalgetty, Rattray and Co., having goods in the store to the value of 3000/ or 3500/, were insured on them for 3000/—equally divided between the Lancashire and London and the Liverpool and London offices. Messrs. Cargill held about 2000/ worth of stock in the place—most of it only bonded a few days ago, and all uninsured. Such will be the story as to by far the larger proportion of the goods. The British Dining Rooms, Hopestreet, belonged to Mr. W. Hooper, whose loss amounted to 1200/ including cottages ) but he was insured in the New Zealand office. Mr. Mills was insui'ed for 700/ in the New Zealand Insurance Company’s Office, and it is to be hoped that his loss will not greatly exceed that sum. Messrs. Royse, Mudie aud Co., estimate the value of their stock and building at about 3000/, which is much less than was feared. They are insured to the extent of 1200/; and of the remainder a considerable portion will not fall upon them but upon shippers of the destroyed goods. Messrs. Mills and Dick, as stated yestei'day, saved their type and presses, and they are insured for 1000/ by the Mercantile Office. Messrs. Coleman and Co., have an insurance of 1000/, for goods in Casper’s ; and Mr. R. Coleman, grocei*, had his buildings insured in the same office for 400/. What is the amourif? of his estimated loss on stock we have not been able to learn ; and the same remark applies to Mr. Moran. As to the amount insured in the different offices, we can speak with more certainty. The following are the results of inquiry from the agents :—-Mercantile, 2400/ ; Liverpool and London, 5000/ ; Royal, 3000/ ; New Zealand, 2000/ ; Otago, under 5001 ; aud Australasian (we believe) about 1500/. These figui'es give a total of 14,400/. The cause of the fire remains unknown. At midnight men employed by the vGovernment were still at work. Some halfdozen horses and carts wex-e occupied in fetching water, and the contents of their barrels were played on the burning mass at intervals, the removal of the numerous, sheets of galvanised iron being also proceeded with. A steady blaze occasionally broke out at different points ; but not; so as to be in the slightest degree dangerous as the gi’eat body of the ruins is at the point nearest Hope street ; and the Wind was in the opposite direction.

Australian Volunteers for New Zealand —Major Pitt’s mission has been so far successful, that in a few days he has been able to obtain above 300 men as military settlei’s. Ihe question of the legality of these enlistments has brought before the Government, but Major Pitt intends to persevere, unless forcibly prevented, and the Crown officers have decided, that the authorities haVe no right to interfex*e. Arrangements have beqp made by which several of the wives arid families of those already serving in the local forces in New Zealand will join their husbands. The first detachment will probably start" in a few days for Auckland by the ship Gresham, which has been specially chartered for the purpose. —Melbourne Herald, Jan. 22. Mr. Reader Wood has since, when at Melboune on his way to England, stopped the enlistment.