The Sun.
London, England, 1851-01-29 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT THE NEW-

CROSS STATION.

For the third time within nine y; are this unfortunate
station has been partially destroyed by fire. Last night,
about ten minutes before eleven o'clock, a light was ob-
served by a man, named Francis, one of the signalmen
on duty, within an extensive building running along the
side of the railway, and used as a storehouse for car-
riages. As the man knew that no person was at work
near the spot, his suspicions were at once excited, and
as the light increased in intensity, he called one of the
porters, who happened to be within hearing. This man
ran to the spot, and it was then immediately discovered
that a fire was raging within the shed, and that several
carriages were in flames. As quickly as possible all
the employee at and near the station were got to-
gether, and messengers having been dispatched to ob-
tain the assistance of the London Fire Brigade, a
hurried council was held as to the best means of stay-
ing the ravages of the 'conflagration. The pipes of the
Kent Water-works Company run along this railway,
and the mains being always charged, a gi,oi supply of
water was readily attainable. But so rapidly did the fire
spread that before even the local engines had arrived on
the spot the flames had penetrated the roof, and ob-
tained firm hold of a lame portion of the building. The
reflection of the fire was very plainly observed all over
the eastern districts of 1.112 metropolis within a quarter
of an hour after the outbreak, and the messengers sent
from New cross met several engines on their way d iwn
to that place. On arriving at the station the horses
were taken out, and the engin, s drawn'dewn the railway
by hand. Mr. Braidwood, Mr. Henderson. and Mr.
Connorton, were all present, and personally directed the
labours of the force under their command. The excel-
lent supply of water at hand was of essential service to
the firemen, whose efforts lit quelling the conflagration,
after an hour's hard work, were completely successful.
The building in which the fire broke out is upwards of
300 feet long and about 25 feet wide. It has a double
line of rails throughout, and affords accommodation for
about 60 carriages. As there is no party-wall or par-
tition from end to end, it is a matter of great surprise,
considering the extent of the fire at one period, that the
whole range has not been destroyed. Happily the loss
of property, although very serious, is not so great as
might fairly have been anticipated. About one-third of
the building is razed to the ground, and the carriages
contained in that portion are of course wholly destroyed.
Some damage to a number of other carriages, and a
slight injury to two or three engines standing in an ad-
joining shed, sums up the catalogue of the disaster, with
one unfortunate exception, viz., that the telegraph wires
belonging to the South-Eastern Railway Company have
been melted and broken for a distance of several yards.
Among the carriages destroyed are several which
have been just received from the builders, and which
were intended to afford the means of transit to visitors
to the Great Exhibition (luting the ensuing season.
The greatest possible care was necessary for the pre-
vention of accidents to the trains passing up and down
the railway while the fire was raging. Fortunately at
the hour when the fire broke out all the passenger trains
had passed New-cross, but there were three or four goods
trains which it was necessary to be prepared for, and
these, by the careful supervision of the officials, were all
duly signalled and brought to a stand before arriving at
the station.

The origin of the fire is altogether unknown at pre-
sent. It is supposed to have commenced at the extreme
end of the building, where a slight party wall separated
it from the engine shed.
The property destroyed belongs exclusively to the
Brighton and South-Coast Railway Company.

LONDON, BRIGHTON, AND SOUTH
COAST RAILWAY.
Secretary's Office, London, Jan. 29, 1851.
The secretary presents his compliments to the
editor of The Sun, and, in order to prevent any mis-
apprehension as to the extent of damage occasioned
by the fire last night at this company's carriage-shed,
at New Cross, begs to inform him that he is enabled
to state that the amount does not exceed 5,0001., and
that the company are FULLY INSURED.

SHOREHAM HARBOUR.—The Commissioners of
Shoreham Harbour have resolved to form a canal in the
eastern branch of the harbour,so as to enable vessels laden
with coal, timber, or any other merchandise, to unload
within two miles of the town of Brighton, instead of going
up to Kingston wharf, thus saving,the expense of the Kings-
ton wharf and railway charges, and: enabling corn merchants
at home successfully to compete with those of London or
any other port.—Brighton Herald.
EASTERN COUNTIES AND GREAT NORTHERN
RAILWAY COMPANIES.—We understand that the directors
of the above companies have entered into an equitable traffic
arrangement, by which all competition between•the two com-
panies is avoided.
THE LONDON AND NORTH-WESTERN AND GREAT
WESTERN CO3IPANIES. For the present, a ruinous competi-
tion is not to be carried on between the above companies.
We are glad to hear that a spirit of peace prevails amongst
the Euston-square authorities. We know that a very exten-
sive correspondence has been carried on between the respec-
tive boards on the subject of the competing lines of the two
corporations. Why not publish it so that the shareholders
may themselves have the materials for judging where the
cause of continued hostility rests?-- There is quite enough
traffic between London and the north to yield a good return
both to the London and North-Western Company and to the
Great Western for the capital expended, and to be expended,
upon the Birmingham and Oxford line. The wise course is
to come to a friendly arrangement for affording proper ac-
commodation for such traffic, and to such an arrangement
the two companies must ultimately come, let them fight as
long and spend as much money as they may in their wisdom
see lit.—Herald.
LINE Or OMNIBUSES IN CONNEXION WITH THE
GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.-1 he Great Northern Rail-
way has just announced its intention to ran omnibuses, with
cheap fares, between Hadley, Barnet, Totteridge, Whetstone,
and Finchley, in connexion with the nearest stations of
the raitway. A line of threepenny omnibusses is also to be
immediately started, to run between the King's-cross station
and the City. The effect of this new arrangement will
be to render the railway more accessible to the public
in almost every, mile of the distance between London and
Barnet.

MINES OF LAKE SIJPERIOR.-0111' latest accounts
from Lake Superior repiesent
the mines as in a good state of
prosperity. 1,500 tons of copper have been shipped, 800 of
which were from one mine. Speculative operations had
ceased, and every organized company had fixed upon a loca-
tion, and was doing an active business in getting out copper.
Traces of ancient mining continue to be found, which prove
of great service to the present miners, directing their atten-
tion to the most feasible spots where excavations have been
made, which could only be effected by arduous toil. These
are supposed by the population to be at least 2,000 years old.
Nothing has been found, however, to show their connexion
with any existing race ; although it appears that the copper
mined was taken off by way of St. Mary's River and the
Lakes, from the detached portions which have been found
on the road between the mines and St. Mary's. The whole
distance between Green Bay and Lake Superior presents a
delightful tract of country, abounding in all the means of
wealth and prosperity. Clear and beautiful lakes, with plenty
of large trout and other fish, are found at convenient inter-
vals. Water power is abundant, The timber, consisting of
maple, beech, oak, and pine, is of a superior quality. The
land has a sufficient variety of surface, and is susceptible of
easy cultivation. A few roads will open this country to the
industrious emigrant, and it will soon present the spectacle of
villages, schools, mills, cultivated farms, and every industrial
pursuit which is now followed in the southern portions of
Wisconsin and Michigan.
We understand that Lord Ebrington is about to
retire from the secretaryship of the Poor-law Board, and
will be succeeded by Mr. R. W. Grey, as Parliamentary
Secretary. Mr. Nicholls also retires on account of ill-health,
and will be succeeded as permanent secretary by Lord
Courtenay, who has already acted as a poor-law inspector
for several years.