DISASTROUS FIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 163, 23 April 1930, Page 6

DISASTROUS FIRE

SIX BUILDINGS BURNED. TWO OTHERS SUFFER DAMAGE. HEAVY LOSS AT- COLLINGWOOD. (Per Press Association..) NELSON, This Day. A most disastrous fire occurred at Collingwood at about 1 o'clock this morning, destroying six buildings and putting two others. Starting in the rear of Stallard's boarding-house, the flames ate up the wooden structure with amazing rapidity. A hall owned by the Presbyterian Churchy and the manse, occupied by Mr Ross and family, soon caugbt. By this time a steady breeze was fanning the flames across the street, licking the buildings opposite. Miss Cotter's billiard saloon soon caught, and the Post Office was threatened, but thanks to a good pressure of water and excellent, work by the brigade this was saved, and the fire was got under control in the billiard room. , By this time the wind had veered slightly, and Brame's Collingwood Hotel and Doyle's butcher shop fell easy victims to the heat, and flames from these buildings swept across William Street, destroying Wigzell's store and the Institute building next door. Mr Taylor's residence, next to the Institute, then caught, but by this time the brigade had worked through the back of the hotel site, and with wonderful work soon had the fire under control, saving portion of the building, though water and smoke did much damage. • The water supply was excellent. The occupants of the boarding-house, butcher's shop and hotel lost practicallv everything. The Institute building housed the library, nothing being saved. The loss is estimated at about £12,(300, which is a big blow to the township.