FIRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 7914, 30 September 1909, Page 1

FIRES.

SERIOUS OUTBREAK AT DENNISTON.

WESTPOET, September 29. A big fire occurred at Denniston early this . morning. The Denniston Hotel (a large building), four shops, two dwellings, the Club and Library (large and well fitted) were totally destroyed, and practically all the contents m a' couple of other buildings were damaged. A brick chimney fell on the Co-operative Store, smashing the wall and doing great damage to the stock. The Westport Coal Company's bins and brake at the head works were saved with difficulty. The fire originated m the hotel. The losses' are severe. A rough estimate of the damage is £5000. Insurances ascertamable: The Atlas Company held a risk of £500 on the stock and furniture of the Denniston Hotel. In C. Smith's shop, owned by James Ormond, the damage to the stock is about £40. It is insured for £100 with the Atlas Company. The State Office insurances are: Co-operative Store, £1250 on the stock; Club and Library, £250 on books and furniture (the amount on the building is not known here, as it is insured at Dunedin) ; J. S. Cumming's cottage, £60. The Phoenix Company has £175 on the hotel, £100 on the personal effects of the caretaker of the Club, and £600 on C. Smith's stock. The Commercial Union Company has £250 on the hotel ; the Alliance Company has £300 on the Co-operative Store ; the National Company £500 on the hotel ; the South British Company £450 on Learmouth's building and furniture; the Quensland Company/ £175 on the hotel.

The Denniston people worked like Trojans to prevent C. Smith's building taking fire, as had it done so the Westport Coal Company's bins, containing 3000 tons of coal, would have gone also, and the output of the mine would probably have been suspended for months.: The Club had to be sacrificed to save the bins.