ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS WOHTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1089, 17 June 1879, Page 2

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS WOHTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.

RUMORED LOSS OF LIFE. WELLINGTON, Sunday. A fearful fire broke oufc at 7.55 p.m., m the Imperial Opera House. When ifc was entered, the fire was found m. the dome of the auditorium. No olae as to the cause has been found. The flames quickly gained a complete mnstery oyer the buildings, and extending rapidly on each side, and across the street on to the Working Men's Club, and all the buildings up to the New Ze.ilander Hotel on one side to, and including 1 the Te Aro branch of the Bank of New Zealand, on the other side. It completely destroyed across the street, Marnners-street, the Wesleyan Ohurch an;l parsonage ; went to Piri'vS drapery shop, at one corner of Emeny's Royal Oak Hotel, at the other it was quickly a mass of flames. The Nag's Head Hotel, at the corner of Dixon Street, was desti'oyed, and several small tenements on the other 3ide of Cubastreet, and the Corporation Market Hall and shops were destroyed. Mr Smith's Te Are House was saved, through the heroic exertions of the Fire Brigades. Mr Whitehouse's grocery, and a large lodging-house adjoining, though, several times on fire, seem likely to be saved. The destruction of property is enormous, probably £100,000. Fully forty tenements are destroyed. Forfcu. natcly, the wind was moderate, o v he fire would have swept oae-half'

of the town. away. The insurance | must bo tremendous. A total of ,€30,000 has already been a •ertained, but tho list is most incomplete. The Opera House was insured for £6800. Eiscock and Hay man's Company, playing • there, have suffered serious loss m wardrobes, and Miss Beatrice m jewellery, bub arrangements are already made for their opening- m the Theatre Royal to-morrow night. Rumors are current that, at least, one fireman has lost his life m the fall of the Opera House, but defiiiitc information has not been obtained, and no report of any loss ot life has been made to the police. PaTEA, Saturday. A long lefctor from Katcne, a staunch supporter of the Govern men t on the question of the Waimate Plains was sent to Major Brown. Speaking for Ngatiraura chiefs, Katene says, "There will be no fighting- by thorn, that the fighting will be at Parihaka." He ridicules To Whiti'a pretensions to supernatural powers, and' in conclusion advises Mr Sheehan to make good his claim by erecting a blockhouse on the Piains, and demanding that botu Hiroki and Te Whiti be fetohed from Parihaka. GISBORNE, last night. An important native meeting convened by Wi Pire has been held. Every tribe was represented. It was resolved to give an unqualified support to the Government m the Taranaki matter. The natives strongly deprecated war, but' were ready to abide by the orders of the Government. The opinion of the meeting was that a native commission of chiefs from the district be sent to enquire into tho difference between Te Whiti and the Government, the commission also to include sach Europeans as native Chiefs would approve. An unanimous support was pledged for the return of Henare Matua for Parliament, vice Kariatiaua.