Judy Weller A flare which lighted up the sky in the vicinity of the port last night, elicited many inquiries of "where is the fire?" through the telephone and otherwise. It subsequently transpired that a small three-roomed cottage beyhond the Western Spit hotel had been burned, and that the Spit brigade had gone over, but without an engine, which would have been useless, considering that the place had been burning half-an-hour before being seen from the southern side of the port. The place, which belonged to Mr C. CARLSON, the mate of the Weka, was soon reduced to ashes, very little of the contents being saved. Mr CARLSON left on a trip along the coast last evening, and it is supposed that he left a candle burning. His wife was away in the country and nobody was in the house. The place was not insured so far as is known. The fire originated in the back room.