DANNEVIRKE FIRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVII, Issue 9127, 24 October 1917, Page 6

DANNEVIRKE FIRE.

ORGANISING RELIEF . . . :&•■

DANNEVIRKE, Oct. 23. Dannevirke is busy to-day contemplating ' the 'scene of yesterday's disastrous "blaze. The debris, burned all night, but the brigade confined it to the area over which the flames ravenously swept, and, despite the gale, there was no further spread. Nothing remains of. what was yesterday in orning, the centre of the town, but bare brick walls, tottering chimneys, twisted galvanised iron, and charred sticks. A track was cut right through the centro of the town, the area devastated comprising between ! two or tli roe acres.

Steps are being taken by the Mayor, the chairman ": of "• the *• Dannevirke County Council;, .the .president, of the Chamber .of Cpmraerce,; and Mr G. Hunter, M.P:, "to organise relief for .the sufferers, and a special _ appeal; is being-made-to-old Dannevirke residents throughout the country to rally round the sufferers. Most of the representatives of the insurance companies are on the scene of the disaster. Three pilferers of salvage appeared in Court to-day. Two were fined £10 each, and one £5, in default 14 days' imprisonment. • . '■■. ..• Z. ' Later. ■■ \. A meeting convened;.by the Mayor was hold this.-., afternoon to consider what steps should be taken to'relieve the position created by the fire., Over £400. was subscribed in the room, Messrs G. Hunter,, M.P.,, Jonathan Holden, and P. G. Cowper heading the list with donations of £100 each. There is no exaggeration about reports previously issued, and ,the losses are practically impossible to estimate at the present prices of stock, and the cost of re-building. The Insurances. The D.C.A. stock' was valued at £'36,000, cost price, and insured for £25,000. The. building also involves a heavy loss. The owners of Andrews Hotel valued. it-at £18,000, and the furniture and effects at £4500. The building was insured for £7710, and the effects for £3225. The Masonic Hotel building' was insured for. £2250. The loss is considerably above that amount. The licensee, Mr Ross, estimates his loss above the insurance on the stock and effects at about £2000. McCallum, jeweller, suffered a total ■loss-of about- £1200; B. 0. Thomseh, I tobacconist, of: £500; and T. J. Flyhn, iboQtmsvkezv ;pl £600.; ; >.' -'V ;-■■■, . •A. C. Webber, bookseller, had his building insured for about .£7OO, and the stock for-&1000J It ;vvas valued '-.cat :£2500. ■■■■•..•.', ■••• •: ;:•;) * , - .. ■V. Rose, Ltd., buildings were valued at about £2000; arid uninsured.' .: Jriiues. Neagle, saddler and motor agent, was a heavy, loser. Dr.umm.orid and Hodcler, ir.qhmpngers, had their 'building insured for £1000, and on the |stock, valued' at "£3OOO, there' was' a | cover of £1500. ■> Collett and Son's .stock and machinery was valued at between £70001 .and'£Booo. They are heavy losers. .';'■• ' A. H. Hill, tobacconist, valued his [ building at £1000. It was insured for only £175. ':. Armstrong and Morrison's -building was valued at" £1000,' and insured for £500. The stock, worth' £6500^ was,' insured for '£'{500. '"'.':- L. T. Rnrtlett, bootmaker, line! | .stock valued at £2000, which was'in- | sured for £575. ' ! The loss-suffered by Charles Clarke, butcher,- is about. £,800. , J. P. Engelbretsen's drapery' stock wns insured for £800, arid valued 'at £2500. He also 1 lost personal' effects valued at £250.: ; ■.-,■■.' .:, The above. 1 aw the priijcipal: losers, but many more minor' sums make up a- formidable list.' '\ r Many 'messages -of >sympathy hays bpen' received liy ,the^ suffprere, many of whom are 1 m aking, temporary arrangoments to • carry ::on/■;'"•'■ ': ■'.