NEWS OF THE DAY.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 443, 15 November 1875, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Tombs's Almanac.—We have to acknowledge the receipt of Tombs's Sixpenny Almanac for 1876. It contains all the usual information to be found in such publications, and is very neatly got up. The Accident on the Bacecourse We were glad to learn last night that the young man, Fabling, who met with a serious accident on Friday during the Sailors' hace, had improved, and, though suffering from concussion of the brain, hopes are entertained of his recovery. Selling Bace.—At a special meeting of the stewards of the C.J.C., held on Saturday at Warner's Hotel, the following resolution was passed:—" That the stewards decide that Steamer and Black Pine, the horses placed first and second for the Selling Bace, not having carried their proper weights, the race was won by the Bat. There being no second horse, no horse can be claimed." Bifle Match,—A match will be fired on Tuesday next between ten men belonging to the Sappho and a like number of the Artillery corps. The ranges will be 200, 300, and 400 yards. The following are the names of those who form the Artillery team—viz, Captain Craig, Sergeant-Major Baven, Sergeants Fox and Piper, Gunners Strange, Hall, Boberts, Paton, Burnett, and Collier. The firing will commence at ten o'clock a.m. We understand the Sappho will leave for Dunedin on Wednesday next. The Late Town Clerk, —We are pleased to learn that it has been resolved by a number of gentlemen, including his Worship the Mayor, Messrs G. Gould, J. Ollivier, W. Wilson, the ex-mayors of Christchurch, and the members of the City Council, to mark the high estimation in which the late town clerk was held, by giving to his family a substantial mark of that respect. We feel sure that the movement will meet with the warm sympathies of the citizens at large, and that the sum raised will be such as to show how great was the esteem in which Mr Gordon was held. We understand that subscriptions will be received by the abovementioned gentlemen ; at the various banks; and at the City Council Chambers. Narrow Escape prom Fire. The Clarendon Hotel had a very narrow escape from fire on Saturday evening. It seems Mrs Wagner had been visiting the linen-room, situated in the north-west corner of the house, shortly before half-past seven o'clock, with a candle in her hand, attending to the week's linen being placed on the shelves. She left the room shortly afterwards, leaving the door open for one of the servants to complete some work requiring attention. After a few moments had elapsed the cook, who sleeps immediately overhead, saw the glare of fire through the boards, and raised the alarm. By this time the room was all on fire, the flame having reached the roof,

through which it soon pierced ; but before this the bell at the Market place had raised the alarm, and the bell at the City Council yard was also being rang by Master Wagner, sent by his father, followed by the bell at the Lichfield street station. In the meantime, Mr Wagner, the landlord, j aided by several gentlemen who had observed j the fire from the street, and others who were living in the house, had, with a washing basin, supplied with water from the rooms in that corrider, completely quenched the fire inside the room, but the roof was still ablaze. Detective Bettington, who was early on the scene, was lifted up from inside to the roof, and buckets of water being passed to him, he soon put an end to the danger from the inside. The ladders of the Hook and Ladder Company had by this time (about eight minutes from the alarm) been placed against the verandah and on to the roof, and buckets of water were passed up, and the " Extincteur" from the Lichfield street station carried on to and playing a strong jet through the roof. The fire was soon out and all danger over, fortunately aided by a still evening. The promptitude of Mr Superintendent Harris and the members of his brigade cantiot be too highly spoken of, as in eleven minutes from the time the alarm had been rung, the hand engine Dreadnought had forced water through her hose, and steam was got up ready for work in the steamers Extinguisher and Deluge, these three engines being placed at the front near Lane's Mill, the Hook and Ladder company, as already stated, taking their position very early. A minute after the Dreadnought had commenced pumping, Mr Harris seeing all danger was over gave orders to cease pumping. Unfortunately a great deal of damage was done by many who desired to save the furniture, by throwing it into the street through the upstairs windows, and rushing out with another portion on the lower floor. The majority of the goods have been found, but among a few items missing are the hotel account books, which have no doubt been removed by some person who has omitted yet to return them. The furniture and stock were insured in the Transatlantic office for £ISOO, and the building in the Victoria for the same amount. It should be added that both divisions of the city police were strongly represented by Inspectors Buckley and Feast and subordinates, and the fire police mustered to the number of twenty-three under their officers.