LYTTELTON.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 3401, 19 June 1877, Page 2

LYTTELTON.

June 37. Shortly after 2 o'clock this morniug a, fire brokc> out in the wharf office on the railway, and speedily communicated with the large export shed on the breastwork. The shed was filled up with potatoes and grain, and was entirely consumed, as a strong westerly wind was blowing all the time, which, however, kept the fire from the sheds on the other side of the line. The breastwork has been considerably burned, but the wharves have escaped without damage ; none of the shipping sustained any injury. Both the Government and Eailway telegraph offices endeavoured to communicate with Christchurch for aid, but were unable to do so, as there was apparently no one on at either office in Christchurch. Messengers were despatched up through the tunnel, but the railway steam tire engine did not arrive through from Christchurch until 7 a.m. Had the fire occurred in any of the other sheds an immense amount of damage would have been done. June IS. Three hundred pounds was collected at the Knox Church yesterday, for the purpose of reducing the debt on the Church. The estimated amount of damage done by the fire at the wharf office is £10,000. The fire would have been nothing had there been a good fire engine on the ground. All the books and papers were saved ; the origin is unknown.