FIRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7821, 14 June 1909, Page 3

FIRES.

Per Frees Association. CHRiSfCHURCH, June 13. ' !vwe^ 8 and 4 °'clock this morning the Cafe Continental, a large brick three-storied private hotel on the beach at buinuer, was destroyed by fire. The hre started .in the top storey, which was practically unoccupied. The whole interior of the building was burned put. and the steel girders were buckled by the intense heat. The occupants managed to escape, many only lightly clad, but they lost all their belongings. The origin of the fire is unknown. Two houses, one occupied by Henry Cotterill, the other by Phillips, had their roofs considerably damaged by falling bricks from the building; and the occupants had a narrow, escape from injury. The City Brigade was telephoned' ror, but did not turn out, and the local brigade had to do the best they could with the appliances at hand. They, had a high "pressure water supply to draw orij but the blaze was too great for them to make much impression on it. Only three walls of the building were left; The insurances, so far as can be ascertained, were as follows-.' The Cafe building (which, it is stated, cost £11,000) was insured in the Victoria Company for £4000, and its contents for £1000.or £2000, but the? office was not ascertainable. * The Cafe Continental contained 42 bedrooms, and was built by a company three years ago at a cost of £8000. There Were, fifteen guests and seven others on the premises, and most of them lost everything, while some narrowly escaped with their lives. The furniture and plant were insured for £1000 in the Victoria. The place was heated, by radiators, and there were no fires except in the kitchen and boilerhouse. The estimated loss is £5000 over the insurance. A boardinghouse in Montreal and Tuam streets was practically destroyed by fire on Saturday night. It was owned by Mr Thomas Wallace, and occupied by Mr Samuel Smith. The building was insured in the Liverpool, London and Globe, £350. and the furniture in the Royal for £150.