PIPIRIKI HOUSE DESTROYED.

I BURNED TO THE GROUND. LOSS £6000 ABOVE INSURANCE. HOUSE TO BE REBUILT. [BX TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, This Day. Pipiriki House, the well-known tourist, hostelry, owned by Hatrick and Co., at Pipiriki, wae burned to the ground last night. Only scanty particulars are available so far. The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen, and it had a good hold before it was disco-\ered. The building was of wood, and was soon a mass of flames. Fortunately it was an "off" tourist night, and very few people were in the house. There will be no inconvenience to tourists, as arrangements have' been made for passengers to Tauinarunui staying on tho houseboat. Pipiriki House contained about 100 rooms, and was a comparatively now building. It will at once be rebuilt. The insurances were: — £4700 on tho building, and £1300 on tho contents, £700 of which was in the Law Union, and the balance in the Royal Exchange, who -were reinsured with the South British, 'Victoria, Sun, New Zealand, United, and Ocean. Tho loss is estimated to be £6000 above insurance. Pipiriki House was a handsome struc-•-turo erected by Hatrick and Co., owners I* of rthe Wanganui river steamers, only a few years ago. It was built of vt'ood |',and had accommodation for three hundred guests. It was fitted with the electric light. The diningroom seated one hundred and twenty. From the upper promenade balcony, which was 130 ft long, and overlooked ihe river, a fine view_ of tho Burrouuding country waE obtained.

Tho annual mooting of tho Thornton 1 Hocioy Oitfb will bo bold this evening.