THfi FIRE ON THE W-AIRARAPA,

(PER UNITED PRESS <S&>SOGIATION) '. GISBOBHB, NOV. 2; The auftprere through the fire are /doing well. The chief steward, Mr Rabbits, had a narrow otcape from suffocation while saving j the i>late, and cue of the firemen was i sc, robed. The steam-sleering gear-, and eJectnc light were destroyed. The Wai» rare pa goes onto Auckland! at 11 o'clock', i takiug her original passengers,, but no new ones. There are no new fact 3 with fegar'd to occurrence. Mrs Uomrie, Stewardess, was burnt in coming in. It has been atated that one of the pteampipes heated the woodwork till it ignited. It is found that the cargo has sustained scarcely any injury. It is reported that the first indication seen of the fire was the smoke coming through the ventilator. Dun£din, -Nov. 2. The Wairarapa will uofc in any way inter fere with the time-table of the Union Com pany's boats. The Ringarooma, from Wel lington,- takes up the Wairarapa's running from Sydney to Auckland, calling at Gisborne en route for the Wairarapa'a passengers. The Hauroto will be despatched from Port Chal mers en Thursday for Bobart and Melbourne iv the running of the Ringarooma, while the latter's passengers and cargo will ba brought on from Wellington by the flotorua, the Mahinapua taking the ftotorua's trip from Wellington to Nelson and back. The Wai rarapa herself proceeds to Auckland with cargo onty, and from there direct to Port (Jlialmers for repairs. Although the Wai rarapa ia reported sufficiently safe to take on her own passengers, the directors have despatched the Ringarooma to Gisborne rather than run the slightest risk. Wellington, Nov. 3: A Gisborne passenger gives the following narrative of the fire on board the Wai rarapa:-—" As soon as the alarm was given, he rushed into the alleyway and saw fire com ing through the bulkhead on the afterside of the alleyway which crosses the ship. At this part the fire was » seething mass of white flame, aud must have been burning some time on the other side of the partition before the alarm was given. Some of the passengers were with difficulty aroused "from the stupor produced by the smoke. The ladies were particularly "unfortunate, the greater number escaping in a single garment, but were quickly supplied with blankets. 