The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-10 00:00:00

GREAT FIRE AT .ROTHERBITHE.

A very destructive fire broke out about 2 o'clock
yesterday morning, on the premises of Messrs. H.
T. Burt and Co., steam saw mill proprietors and
timber merchants, known as Durrant's wharf,
Trinity-street, Itotherhithe. The buildings covered
several acres of ground. It consisted of boiler-
houses, steam sawing mills, storehouses, and work-
shops, and the wharf was 'covered with piles of
timber, and several thousand railway sleepers. The
discovery was made by a police constable of the
M division, who in passing along his beat noticed
black smoke rising from stacks of railway sleepers
standing on the land side of the wharf. The officer
at once gave the alarm, and aroused the residents of
the surrounding houses. Before, however, he had
time to send for the engines, immense sheets of
flame rose high into the air, and were attacking
the premises belonging to Messrs. Courage and Co.,
but sub-let to several poor families, none of whom
were insured, They rushed out into the open street
without waiting to dress, bringing with them their
children, and anything of a portable cbaraeter they
could lay hold of. The flames next seized upon two
skittle-grounds belonging to Mr. Rooke, the pro-
prietor of the India Arms Tavern, No. 44, in Trinity-
street. The flames were then on the point of en-
circling the rope factory belonging to Mr. Bennett,
whose premises extend over a quarter of a mile
in length. To stop the ravages of the fire in
this direction, however, strong means were at
once adopted, and by cutting away 240 feet of the
covered rope walks and spinning houses the fire was
happily stopped. The main body of fire, however,
continued its ravages, and in a very brief period
after the discovery about 5,000 of the railway
sleepers presented such a blaze as is seldom wit-
nessed, the light being so great that St. Paul's
Cathedral, the Crystal Palace., at Sydenham, and
other lofty buildings were brilliantly lighted up.
This caused a general turn out of the engines. Some
of the City and West-end engines were taken along
the Middlesex side off` the Thames, and having pro-
ceeded as far as the Thames Tunnel, the firemen
were mortified by finding that the fire was on the
opposite side of the water, and they had to turn
back again in order to get over London-bridge.
This of course consumed considerable time, but it
is questionable if the land engines had reached the
place sooner, owing to the time lost before water
could be obtained from the mains, whether they
would have been able to do much good. Captain
Shaw, the superintendent of the fire engine estab-
lishment, Mr. Henderson, the chief officer of the B
district, and a powerful body of engineers and fire

men were, considering the distance from town,very
soon in attendance with numerous engines, includ-
ing one belonging to the Commercial Dock Com-

pang, the two large steam river floats, the land
steam engine by Shand and Mason, and numerous
laud engines. Immense lengths of hose were
stretched out from the two floats and conveyed into
the burning wharf, and some thousand tons of
water were thrown on the flames. As soon as water
could be got from the plugs in the neighbourhood
the land steamer and other engines were called into
operation. The first thing sought to be accom-
plished was, if possible, to cut off the flames in the
direction of the Trinity school house, the Dyers'
Arms Tavern, and the other buildings. Fortunately,
as far as this went, the labours of the firemen were
to some extent crowned with success, but not the

least impression could for some hours be made upon
the flames rising from the timber on the wharf.

It was not till a late hour in the day that the fire
was extinguished. The damage done is thus

officially ;turned by Capt;in Shaw to the
various insurance companies interested in the loss :
—" Sunday, March 9th, 1862, 2 o'clock a.m.—A
fire broke out in the premisesof Mr. H. P. Burt and
Co., called Durrant's wharf, Trinity-street, Rother-
hithe. The premises were used as steam saw mills
and timber merchants' stores and yards. The cause

of fire unknown. The fire was extinguished by

Bremen with four engines of D, two of B, one of C,

,hree of A, the two river floats, and the land steamer

of the brigade, and one from the Commercial Docks.
About 5,000 railway sleepers are destroyed. The
buildings and their consents were insured in the
Atlas, the Phoenix, the Leeds and Yorkshire, and

other fire-offices. The fire was on the land side of
the wharf. No. 43, ditto, belonging to Messrs.

Courage and Co., but let out in tenements. Pre-
mises and contents very considerably damaged by
fire and breakage. Contents not insured. Building
unknown at present whether it was insured. No.
44, ditto, Mr. G. Rooke, licensed victualler, the
India Arms, two timber buildings used as skittle
grounds butned down, and some windows broken;
insured in the Phcenix Fire-office for contents,

building unknown. No. 45, ditto, Schoolhouse
damaged by breakage and windows broken ; con-
tents not insured, building in the Phcenix.

Silver-street, S. D. Bennett, rope-maker, about 240
feet of rope walks damaged by cutting away ; in-
sured in the Sun."

THE CIVIL SERVICE.

War-office—Mr. Robert Alexander Dobbin has

been appointed a clerk of works. Audit-office—
Mr. Alexander Curry Eliot has been appointed a
clerk; Mr. Francis Albert Marshall has been ap-
pointed a clerk. Lunacy Commission—Mr. Thos.
William Wake Smart has been appointed a clerk.
The Post-office—The Postmastership of Wellington,
Salop, is vacant. Net value about $l6O per annum.
Mr. Samuel William Casserley has been appointed
a clerk in the Solicitors' Department, London.
Customs—Mr. George Millgate Holbrook has been
appointed an out-door offioer in London ; Mr. Chas.
Smith has been appointed an out-door officer in Lon-
don; Mr. William Hayward Turner has been ap-
pointed an out-door officer in London ; Mr. Henry
Ratcliffe has been appointed a clerk at Manchester;
Mr. Daniel M'Guinis has been appointed an out-
door officer at Galway ; Mr. William Todd Napier
has been appointed an out-door officer at Shields;
Mr. Thomas Watson has been appointed an out-
door officer at Shields; Mr. J. Quinn has been pro-
moted from sixth to fifth class of clerks, London
Docks ; Mr. S. F. Gibbons has been promoted
from fifth class of clerks, Controller-General's-office,
London, to third class of clerks, Secretary's Depart-
ment, London ; Mr. T. B. Bishop has been promotedrars
from fifth class of clerks, Cootr I
office, London, to third class ocle°l3rikaejsi.
Department, London s Mr. Samuel G
heanse Secretary'sbee
n
promoted from ninth to eight clerkship at Bristol;
Mr. J. P. Jones has been promoted from tenth to
ninth clerkship at Bristol ; Mr. W. W. Hall has
been promoted from eleventh to tenth clerkship at
Bristol ; Mr. E. Bartley has been promoted from
twelfth to eleventh clerkship at Bristol ; Mr. T. B,
Morris has been promoted from thirteenth to
twelfth clerkship at Bristol ; Mr. J. Fairbairn has
been promoted from fourteenth to thirteenth clerk-
ship at Bristol. Inland Revenue Department
(Excise Branch)—Mr. Peter Connacher, officer of
Edinburgh second division, Edinburgh collection,
has been appointed to Glasgow fourth division, Glas-
gow collection ; Mr. Murphy, officer of Kilrea
ride, Coleraine collection, has been appointed to
Dungiven ride, Coleraine collection ; Mr. John
Foley, officer f Dungiven ride, Coleraine collec-
tion, has been appointed to Kilrea ride, Coleraine
collection ; Mr. William Ecuckes, officer of Staf-
ford ride, Stafford collection, has been appointed to
Rugeley ride, Stafford collection ; Mr. F. G. Kent,
officer of Wigtown ride, Dumfries collection, has
been appointed to Stafford ride, Stafford collection.
East Indies.—Mr. M. Wylie has been appointed
deputy secretary to the Government of Inach
in the home department ; Captain E. St. George
has been appointed an assistant-secretaryto
the Government of India in the home
depart-
ment;Corps,
Major F. N. Smith, Madras
second-class deputy controller and
to
Staff
examiner of
public works account, Pegu, has been
promotedexaminer of
be a first-class deputy-controller and
accounts ; Lieut. C. C. Taylor,latceit6th asassistant Nativeln-
funtry, has been appointed to officiate
to the agent to theGovernorCannon has beenr General for the
States of Raj pootana ; Dr • 11
appointed superintendent ofintheoLuduock; noAwir.Gacol.
and inspector of prisons.
appointee a third-class
to the North-West
andß
eel examiner a mh
ai ns e r
beenof publicappoi
appointed
works,
Nuttall has been
posted
deputy-controller
accounts, and
secretary
j.1,.i1t.0
NtrhaerdGrohvaesrnmbeeennt
• .
r.
provinces ;
officiate as junior
3 I
appointed
poßine
tnegdalto; officiate as Under-Secretary to the
Government of Bengal ; Mr. J. D. Ouseley has
been the magistrate and col-appointed assistant to
lector of Shahabad ; Mr. C. T.
Metcalfe has been ap-
pointed assistant to the magistrate and collector of
Tirhoot ; Mr. W. H. D'Oyley has been appointed
assistant to the magistrate and collector of Raishay a ;
Capt. H. Hyde, Officiating
Mint Master, has been ap-
pointed Mint Master and Head Commissioner of the
Department of Issue of Paper Currency; Mr. G. H.
French, officiating
deputy magistrate and deputy
collector in Rajshahye, has been appointed a de-
puty magistrate and deputy collector in that dis-
trict.—Civil Service Gazette.

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

TATTERSALLS'-(T1113 EVENING).

LryEßrooL STEEPLECHASE.
6to 1 agst guntsman (taken)
Bto 1 agst Jealousy (taken)
14 to 1 agst Playa; an (taken)
14 to 1 agst Anatis (i'„aken)
16 to 1 agst Harry (taken)
20 to 1 agst Romeo (taken) _
20 to 1 agst Brunette (taken)
25 to 1 agst Thomastown (taken)
25 to 1 agst Bridegroom (taken)
25 to 1 agst Tattler (taken)
33 to 1 agst Willoughby (taken)
66 to 1 agst O'Connell (taken)
66 to 1 agst Cannibal (taken)

ARRIVALS AT LIVERPOOL.
Northern Light, Huntsman, O'Connell, Ace of Hearts,
Daisy King, Nosegay, Romeo, Hetty, Brunette, Leonora.,
Costa, Catherine Hayes filly, 'Thomastown, Bucephalus,,
Dora, Jealousy, Chester, Willoughby, Petra, Abron,
Julia, Lord of the Manor, Blithefield, Anatis, Harry, 'end.
Shropshire.

MPE RIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS--THIS EVENING.

The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the woolsack
at five o'clock.

ROYAL COMMISSION.
The Royal Assent Was given by commission to the Con-
solidated Fund Bill.

VV
The Royal Commissioners Were the Lord Chancellor,
Lord Cranworth, and Earl St. Germans.
SHOOTING LICENCES.
The Earl of MALMESBURY said on Thursday next
he should call the attention of the house to a circular
which had been sent round to all those who held shooting
licenses, and which was said to have the approval of the
Chief Commissioners of Woods and Forests.
THE PRESS IN PIEDMONT.
The Marquis of NORM ANBY said he was compelled to
postpone the motion which stood on the paper for Friday
until Monday next, owing to the non-arrival of certain in-
formation which he had expected.
THE REVISED CODE.
The Earl of DERBY presented petitions against the
Revised Code.
THE SOUTHERN BLOCKADE. _ _ _

Lord STIIATHEDEKrOLtOcaII the attention of the
house to the blockade of the ports of the Confederate
States of America, and to move for copies of any-
correspondence on the subject subsequent to the
papers already presented to the house. The noble lord
commenced by remarking upon the importance of the sub-
ject, especially to the trading and mercantile community.
He considered the blockade as it existed merely an impedi-
ment to trade, because it seemed totally inadequate
for the purpose for which it was intended. To be of any
service a blockade ought to be most rigorously kept by the
parties instituting it, and yet although the Federal States
had resorted to the choking up of Charleston harbour all
was of no avail. In order to show the feeling of the mer-
cantile community on the subject, insurances could readily
be effected on vessels trading between Liverpool and
Charleston at 15 per cent., that would not be the case
if the blockade was sonsidered effective. Instead of
15, 20 per cent. was the ordinary rate of in-
surance where a blockade was rigorously carried out
and he could not help thinking that the position of affairs
at the present moment was such that something of a defi-
nite nature ought at once to be adopted. The noble lord
then proceeded to read several extracts from the de-
spatches written by Consul Banks.
{LEFT SPEAKING.]

HOUSE OF COMMONS—THIS EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the chair at four o'clock.
NEW MEMBER.
Mr. H. BUTLER JOHNSTONE took the oaths and his
seat for Canterbury.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
The following bills were read a second time :—Bristol'.
and Exeter and Taunton Railways, Oswestry and
and Newtown, Llanidloes and Newtown, and Shrewsbury
and Welchpool Railway Companies, Kent County Goal
and Lunatic Asylum (Water Supply), and Queenstown
Improvement.
ROYAL COMMISSION.

Col. CLIFFORD, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod,
summoned the members to the Upper House to hear the
Royal assent given by commission to some bills, for which
see Lords' report.