3-038-946 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Great fire at Port Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand, 1871. Engraving from a photograph by Mr. S. Bashford, of Christchurch. 'The seaport town of Lyttelton, near Christchurch, the capital of Canterbury Province, in the Middle Island of New Zealand - the southernmost of the two large islands which comprise the inhabited settlements - was greatly damaged on Oct. 24 [1870] by a conflagration in the chief streets. The fire began at night in a liquor-store attached to the Queen's Hotel, in London-street, whence a strong north-east wind drove it across the block of buildings situated towards Norwich Quay, Canterbury-street, and Oxford-street, mostly constructed of timber, but containing shops, warehouses, and offices, with much property of value. There was but one fire-engine in the place, a small hand- engine; and the only water accessible was that of the harbour, 400 ft. distant. After some delay, a steam fire-engine was procured from Christchurch, and sent to Lyttelton by railway, accompanied by the Mayor of Christchurch, with the police and volunteers, and many of the citizens, who exerted themselves to save their neighbours' property and to relieve the families burnt out of house and home. The damage is estimated at £83,000'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.