Cornish Row Fire.

On the night of the 25th May, 1840, the line of cottages described as “Cornish Row” was burnt down, the inflammable nature of the roofs and walls having overcome all the efforts of the settlers of all classes, who had hurried from their beds to the scene, on the first alarm. No lives were lost. The houseless families were received, some by their neighbours and some in the Company's emigrant houses, and a ready subscription replaced the burnt clothes and other effects belonging to those, who being poor, could ill afford even so small a loss.

The blaze had hardly subsided, when the sleepers were again aroused by the shock of an earthquake. Some amusement was caused by some of the settlers who ran out in scanty clothing and fired their muskets and pistols, under the idea that a troop of natives were trying to pull the huts down. To add to their discomfort, the Hutt River was overflowing its banks on the 30th. This was for the second time since the formation of the settlement.