THE SEA ON FIRE.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 295, 11 July 1868, Page 6

THE SEA ON FIRE.

(From the JSxpress.) An explosion, followed by a fire, from which the whole of the shipping in the docks at Havre was for a time in danger of destruction, occurred three days back. At about 11 in the morning a loud detonation was heard in the Barre basin, and at the same moment columns of flame and smoke burst from a large vessel, named th Fanchette, moored along the quay' and on which 400 barrels of essence of petroleum were embarked. Only one man was on board atthe moment, and t having just entered the cabin, he was thus protected from the effects of the explosion. Ho was, however, slightly burnt on the head, but succeeded in getting ashore. It being Sunday morning, few persons were near the spot, but assistance promptly arrived, and steps were taken to remove the other craft in. the basin out of danger. Mr Hagenow, of the Transatlantic Company's service, had in the meantime, at great peril, crossed the burning vessel to unchain some, others which were moored outside her and which were at once towed away. No attempts were made to extinguish the fire, as they manifestly would have been useless. The flames had, however, communicated to some construction on the quay, and to a pile of campeachy wood, but were, in these cases, got under. The dockgates had in the meantime; been opened, and all the vessels were being hauled into the adjoining basins, and just as the last had been got away, the hawser which held the Fanchette was burnt through, and she began to drift towards the floating dock, which could not be removed, and was left alone in the basin. M. Hagenow, already mentioned, and. 0 . Captain Grow, immediately put offhi boats, and, notwithstanding the immense heat tin-own out by the fire, succeeded in getting sufficiently near to throw grappling irons on board the vessel, which was then towed away and allowed to burn out. The liquid had-floated on the watery which was covered with flames, and made so hot that large numbers of dead fish were found after the fire, having been killed by the unusual temperature. More than 30,000 persons lined the quays during the latter part of the disaster: there was no wind at the time, and the flames.rose to an immense height, forming a magnificent spectacle. The cause of the explosion is not known.

One of the most impudent and yet amusing robberies that has recently come under our notice, was perpetrated on "Wednesday night. A gentleman of this town had arranged with one of our brewers for a supply of beer in a keg that was to be sent, and the keg in question was duly cleaned out and made ready for the reception of the liquor. After this it was put outside the house to be sent to the brewery at some convenient time and there left. The house we may say is situated on the beach, and is unprotected by a fence. To the great astonish - ment of the gentleman in question, yesterday morning between 9 and 10 o'clock a policeman eaded at his house and asked if he had lost any beer, the reply was that he had not, for that he was going to send for some that day. On looking for the keg however it was missing, and it then turned out that two worthies had " borrowed "it, taken it to the brewers, and asked to have it filled for the person who had previously ordered the beer. The brewer of .corse thought it was all right and gave it, when the pair adjourned to the beach and sat down to drink it forthwith. Early yesterday morniug a business man whilst taking a constitutional stroll, found them happy as princes witli the beer all but consumed, and thinking the matter suspicious gave information to the police, when they were at once arrested. How they gained a knowledge of the owner of the keg intending to send for beer, is 'one of the mysteries only known to the thoroughly initiated loafer, but find it out they did, and acted on their knowledge as above. ' The Nelson Examiner of the 4th reports the following serious loss to Mr Stafford. The mare in question was one of those to be. disposed of by lo.ttcry, and it was stated in the advertisement that her winner could either have £2OO or his prize. Our contemporary says—- " We regret to state that Mr Stafford has sustained a heavy loss in the death of his mare Omen. The mare had for sonic days been suffering from what wa&supposed to be influenza, a disease that has lately been very prevalent among horses here, but the immediate cause of her death we have not heard. Omen was bred by Mr Stafford, and she was one of the best animals his stud has produced." The Westland Observer has passed altogether out of Mr Sale's hands frcm

some cause or other, and Mr J. P. Klein I is now sole proprietor. We have heard of people who have woke up in a morning and found themselves famous, and Mr Klein is one of these. Jl h purchase has brought out latent virtues in his person that no . one previously gave him credit for, and how so shining a light has hitherto been concealed under a bushel is extraordinary. The Celt says of him, and ■where could there be a better authority—" From the known independence and honesty of character of the proprietor we may expect to seo his journal conducted in accordance with his character. Mr Klein has been for a long time a public man in this town, though holding no recognised public position. . A newspaper in the hands of such a man is a powerful, engine for effecting a great deal of public good. Had such an engine been in existence at the time of the late.disturbances, we had no State prosecutions. Had the Observer been in Mr Klein's hands, it had not provoked our criticism on a late occasion. In assuming the sole proprietorship of a newspaper, Mr Klein has undertaken a <»reat responsihility, and we hope he will prove true to his trust."

The Daily Southern Cross say's : To such an extent have the pheasants increased in this Province that fields and gardens are completely devastated by them. The'seed corn is taken out of the ground by the acre at a time. We know of one case beyond Riverhead where a man sat down last year to supply the Auckland market with green peas. Three times he sowed nearly an acre of land, and each time did the pheasants take up the seed and destroy his crop. Such instances as this could be multiplied a hundred fold did we choose. Pheasants have in fact become, as our correspondence columns have from time to time disclosed, a positive nuisance, and it is a question for our Auckland legislators now to consider, whether the country lands of this Province are to be used for growth of farm produce or for the preservation of game. Our latest Auckland files anounce the death of two well-known military men —Major Tighe and General Taylor. Speaking of the former, the Southern Cross, of the 29th ult., says:—" Michael Tighe, a brave soldier and . a good citizen, was buried yesterday. The respect in which he was held was shown by. the large number of persons of all classes who followed his remains —old soldiers who had stood in the ranks with him ; militiamen and volunteers who knew him as a strict, but kind-hearted officer ; and citizens who held-.him in high esteem for his simple and upright manners. In parting with Major Tighe, who was so closely connected with the militia and volunteer orgai, isation of Auckland, we seem to take leave of times which* we hope will not again return—when our citizens were called from their occupations to learn the art of war and mourn the miseries and evils of camp lire. There is no one to say a harsh word of 'the Major.' In dealing with militiamen,he had ijmany difficulties to contend with which the commander of regular soldiers never knows, but his genuine good-hearted-ness kept him right: the men, knowing him well, felt for him sincere respect, and He therefore goes over to the many full of years and honors, and, it may be said, numbering every member of the community as a friend." The same jourrial says:—" One of our most eminent settlers, Greneral William Taylor, died at his residence, West Tamaki, on Saturday. General Taylor was born on the 2nd of December, 1790. He was the third son of the Rev. W. Taylor, D.D., one of the chaplains for Scotland to George the Third, and for upwards of twenty years minister of St. Enoch's Church, Glasgow, in which city he was well-known as a distinguished preacher. General Taylor went out to Madras as a cadet in 1806. His commissions date as follows: —Ensign, July 3, 1807 , Lieutenant, August 27, 1811; Captain, September 4, 1822 ; Major, September 25, 1835 ; Lieutenant Colonel, June 13, 1840 ; Lieutenant Colonel Commandant, Sept. 4,1849 ; Colonel, Sept. 2S, 1850; Major-General, November 28, 1854 - Lieutenant-General, March 28,1865. General Taylor served with his regiment, the 39th Madras Native Infantry, with the Kurwood Eield Force in 1839, aud with the expedition to China in 1842. As Brigadier lie commanded the Sangor and Nurbudda District, Central India, from 1819 to 1855, then came down to New Zealand on sick leave after a continuous service of nearly fifty years. Returning to India, he finally retired on furlough, aud settled in this country in 1857, since which time he has been a resident at the West Tamaki. He was highly esteemed in the district, and did much towards its advancement."

Messrs,Wrigg, G.E., and party have completed a survey from the Waimangaroa coal mine, along the ocean beach, for a proposed line of tramway to Westport. A new brewery is being erected at the junction of the Addison's Elat and tbe Buller track, about three' miles from Packer's point, by Mr H. Eindt, and it will soon be in working order. The plant is the same that was used by Mr "Weitzell at Addison Elat, and has been removed down to the above site. Mr Eindt is, we understand a practical brewer, and has every prospect of doing a good trade.