FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 643, 9 April 1870, Page 2

FIRE IN CHRISTCHURCH.

SUCCESSFUL ATTACK ON TE KOOTI. NEW.LIKE OE MAIL STEAMERS. (BY ELEGTBIG TELEGRAPH.) (From the W. O. Times.) Christchubch, April 2. A firo took place in Colombo-street early this morning. The buildings destroyed were —Brownell's, merchants, building and stock insured in the Pacific Insurance Company for £900; Withey, pork butcher, building ininsured for- £3OO in the Globe Insurance Company; Hill and Sons, bakers, stock insured for £3OO in the New Zealand Insurance Company. The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary. "Wellington, April 5. At the meeting held yesterday a resolution was passed to form a new company, and to buy the New Zealand Company's vessels, scrip in the latter company to be taken as cash. Another meeting is to be held to-night. A man named Martin, a drill-in-structor, has been arrested on a charge of criminally assaulting a girl eleven years old. It is reported on good authority that the last Commission on the Tricker case sent a secret report, recommending the convict's pardon, on condition that he left the colony. Napieb, April 5. Eopata has attacked Te Kooti in the Urewera country, and defeated him. There were 19 of the enemy killed, and upwards of 300 taken prisoners. Hakaraia, one of the murderers of the Rev. Mr Volkner, is amongst the killed. S The miscreant Te Kooti escaped with only 20 men.

(From the Grey River Argus.) Hokitika, April 4. Chamberlain, a prisoner in the County Goal, received a sentence at the Kesident Magistrate's Court today of thirty lashes with the cat, for repeated infringements of the gaol regulations. He is in for four years, for perjury in the Maungatapu murder cases (Sullivan and Co.) Wellington, April 4. Mr Collie, agent to Mr H. Webb, shipowner, New York, has arrived at Auckland, to make arrangements with the Governments of New Caledonia, Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, for a line of steamers to run through the tropical islands of Polynesia. He proposes to lay on the following vessels:—Nebraska, 2143 tona register; Nevada, 2145 tons; Dacotah, 2150 tons; Santiago de Cuba, 1627 tons. Branch steamers from Honolulu to Auckland are proposed. He says Mr Hall's line will fall through from the smallness of the steamers and want of co-operation at the other end. > Samuel Bailley, of the Great Barrier Island, has cut his throat in a fit of insanity. The Governor has gone for a cruise in the Hauraki Gulf. The first New Zealand war medal has been received by Major Hamley. April 6. The New Zealand Company's coal hulk, with ninety tons of coal on board, sank at her moorings last night. Dunebin, April 3. On Friday the police captured Keating, alias "Dublin Jack," who

escaped from Hokitika Gaol in 1867. At Drybread Gully, Greenbank's party of five, for five months' work, washed up 430 ounces; and Bead's party, for one month, 200 ounces. Kelson', April 6. News is to hand from Auckland, but it is not important. The "Wbnga Wonga, for San Francisco, took away about one hundred and seventy passengers. The notorious prisoner named Plummer has again attempted to escape from gaol; he has received a sentence of twelve months in irons. Eleven hundred natives have met at Baglan for tangi over Naylor's grave. Six hundred of the number were Hau Haus. The affair cost the Eaglan natives £IOOO. In a week 6215 ozs. of gold have reached Auckland from the Thames.