THE LATE FIRE AT LYTTELTON.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 731, 1 November 1870, Page 2

THE LATE FIRE AT LYTTELTON.

The Wellington " Post" gives the following particulars of the late fire at Lyttelton:— The fire was first discovered in an empty houce adjoining the Queen's Hotel, then crossed to the other side of London street; thus both sides of London street were in flames from the corner of London and Oxford streets. The fire swept down Oxford street, destroying the stores of Dransfield and Co., Hawkins and Co, the "Times" Agency Office, the Canterbury Hotel; and thence continued to rage along Norwich Quay, destroying Dalgety and Co's bond and warehouse, which were filled with wheat and spirits. All the intermediate shops to Leslie's Saxon Hotel, fell one by one. The fire caught the rear of several private houses, which were all destroyed. In a few minutes the stores ot Cameron brothers, Taylor and Co., and the Eobin Hood Hotel caught, thus completing a circuit of the block. In London-street, the fii'e was also progressing, destroyma private and public buildings. The Onristchurcn mre isriguue» enwis were directed to save the Mitre Hotel, and they succeeded in stopping the progress of the fire, which other? wise, would have taken the whole block eastward. Meantime, a large store on the seaward side of Norwich Quay caught fire, and was soon one mass of flames.

Two-thirds of the town of Lytteltoi is absolutely cleaned of buildings, com prising an area of four or five acres.

The following is a list of buildings destroyed :

London-street. The Queen's Hotel; Catbo, bootmaker; Hunter, grocer; Webb, green-grocer ; Fisher, dwelling-house; Burt, stationer; "Wade, confectioner; Culliford, butcher ; Dr. Eouse's house ; Merson, storekeeper; Shade's Hotel; Pitcaithley, butcher; Bank of New Zealand ; _ Bunker, store-keeper; Ayers, hair-dresser; Elleston, Druggist ; "Walker, bootmaker; G. Lewis, storekeeper; Percy, bootmaker; M'Donald, tailor; Arthur, green-gro-cer; Spairey, green-grocer; Kassiter, watchmaker; and the Railway Hotel. Oxford-street. Dransfield, merchant ; "Lyttelton Times" Office; Eeece and Co., iron mongers ; and the Victoria Dining Eooms. Norwich Quay. The Canterbury Hotel; Dalgety and Co'sstore; Forbes's store; Post Office, and the Telegraph Office,gutted; Hey wood and Co's store; Hargreaves and Co's store, gutted; Eobinson, confectioner; Leslie's Saxon Hotel; Parkinson, butcher; Heron's store; Cameron Brothers, drapers; and the Eobin Hood Hotel. While the fire was raging in Lyttelton, the steamer Taranaki was aground at the wharf, in somewhat dangerous proximity to the flames, and serious fears for her safety were at one time entertained. Captain Wheeler, however, by a judicious use of his fire-hose on the adjacent building, stopped the progress of the fire in that direction; and the cabin of the steamer afforded shelter to a large number of the burned out families. People on board the Taranaki describe the fire as something terrific. Piles of goods and furniture, removed from the burning buildings to what was thought a safe distance, were lapped up in a single moment by a rush of flame, and it was absolutely wonderful that no loss of life occurred. The fire broke out about ten o'clock p.m.

A lady in Albany says she lives almost entirely on hope, "but she does like one good meal a day as a foundation for hope to rest upon. Our friend goggler, whose eyesightis failing him, was recommended to try glasses for its improvement. He says he went and took five or six directly and the result was that his eyesight was so improved he could actually see double.