An alarm of fire was given about 12.15 0n Tuesday night; the two strokes of the bell indicating that it was in the northern half of the Buglish Settlement. Its, position was defined accurately enough in a few minutes, by the smoke and flame against the clear sky, as that occupied by the Ching-foong "Printing office, and firemen hastened with their engines to the spot. the earliest arrivals busied themselves in saving what furniture and plant could be most readily removed; but their efforts were soon stopped by the fast spreading flames, to the unchecked ravages of which the main building had for a short time to be given up. In about 90 minutes after the rst alarm, however, the Deluge and Victoria steam-engines got under play from the wells in Ningpo road; and No. 1 engine taking up the same position, three powerful jets in front rapidly reduced the Eheatening appearance which the con-flag ration had assumed. A few extra pounds of steam enabled the firemen to throw water right over the building, so as to prevent the fire communicating with Messrs. Chapman, King & Co.'s godowns and hong in the rear, and stables at the upper end; while the. second hose of the Victoria was passed through the sem tached building which forms the public offices of Messrs. da Costa & Ca., and did excellent service in cutting off the spread of the fire in this direction. The Mih-ho-loong had meanwhile been actively engaged in cutting away everything that could assist the fire spreading, chiefly projecting woodwork, and matting stretched on bamboo frames over open passages between the various houses. The Salvage Corps was equally busy, and received into its truck a quantity of valuable property. The floating engine came to Ewo jetty and pumped a stream along Pel supply one of the French Engines, the Gas Co,'s, we believe. The water in the Ningpo Road series of wells proved ample for the other engines, which for over an hour threw powerful streams from that source, engines and firemen both doing their work well. No effort, however, could save Messrs, da Costa and Co,'s premises in which the fire broke out. By about half-past one, these were a thoroughly gutted and a blackening ruin. Their contents comprised a comparatively fresh and valuable printing plant, and several works Kermation as yet regarding the origin of the foing through the press. We have no in-
fire, all that could be ascertained at the moment was that it had broken out on the upper floor, Nor have we heard the actual or collateral loss estimated, but we understand the plant of the office was insured for Tls. 12,000 in the Hongkong Fire Ellice, and the building for Tls. 6,000 in the Phenix. The engines left the place between Band 4 a.st., but subsequently there were threatening outbursts in unconsumed but smouldering portions of the building, which were watched and extinguished by the Police under Superintendent Penfold, who remained on the ground till 6.a.a. Durin the following day the ruin shouldered, anc the danger from falling bricks has led to barriers being thrown across the Szechuen road where it is joined by the Peking and Ningpo roads. Policemen have also been on special duty in front of the building. Among the property saved were the formes of the Evening Gazette, which however has not been since republished.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.