FIRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7734, 2 March 1909, Page 3

FIRES.

SERIOUS OUTBREAK AT TAIHAPE. | Per Press Association.

AUCKLAND, March 1. The hotel at Takapuna was completely'- destroyed by fire this afternoon. Jhe building, which was erected twen-ty-five years ago, was built of wood, and contained some fifty rooms It was owned by the Campbell Ehrenfried Company, the licensee, who had been m possession only three weeks bein^ Mr F. T. Lipscombe. The stock and furniture were insured for £1000 m the United Company, but the loss is estimated to be at least £130- ' The building was insured for £200 m the New Zealand Office. There were no boarders at the hotel at the time of the fire. . DUNEDIN, March 1. Ihe bpringvale schoolhouse, near Alexandra, was destroyed by fire at '2.30 a.m. on Saturday. The'outbreak was discovered by men working on the Oing dredge but when they arrived on the scene the building was doomed Ihe origin of the outbreak is not Known. J lie teacher was away nt the time, and lost a number of valuable oooks and other articles.

I WELLINGTON. March ]. The secretary of the General J-.-.st Office was advised at B.JK) to-night by I the postmaster at Taihape that a large fire had occurred m the business part of the town ; twelve business places 'wore destroyed, including Ellis and Darvill's block. The lire is now under control. LATER. A message from Taihape states that a destructive live occurred this evening. A whole block m Main street and Station street was totally destroyed. Thirteen business premises were gutted. The fire started m Messrs Whaler Bros., boot shop, and spread rapidly to the right and left. Fortunately it was a calm night. The list of other premises destroyed is as follows : — McPhorson (tailor), N ichol (jeweller), Finch (stationer), Drable (store), Labour Department, J. P. Alodridge (insurance agent), Hautipo 'Pea ljtooms, Whitcombe (dentist), Wong Kee (fruiterer), Jones (painter), Hodgson (plumber), Garner (seed merchant). Not a stick of timber is left m the police sergeant's residence, and the shops opposite were only saved by the strenuous exertions. The crowd worked willingly. The fire brigade was just proceeding by train to Auckland for the fire brigades demonstration, but remained behind. Their services were of little use, as no water was available. The insurances at present ascertained are: Hodgson, £300 m Norwich Union; Whaler, £250 m Australian Alliance; Nichols, £800 m South British; Garner, stock, £100, building, owned by Gibbons, £100 both" m Commercial Union; Whitcombe, stock £150 m Commercial Union; Finch, £900 on stock, valued at £1500 i:i Sun Office on personal effects £50 m New Zealand. Ellis and Darvill are insured m the Alhanco Office, but the amount is not known. The progress of the fire was eventually stopped by pulling down buildings adjoining the police section