GREAT FIRE AT HAWERA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 212, 5 September 1895, Page 8

GREAT FIRE AT HAWERA.

A terrible fire broke oub on Aug. 29 in C. Smith's drapery shop, and spread to the Egmonb Hotel so rapidly thab some of the boarders had no time to escape. Mr Caverhill, Secretary to the Waitara Freezing Works, and Mr Turner, architect and carpenter, were burned to death. The fire spread to Niniuio, Scott's (stationer), Kemp, Cohen, Cummins (draper), Lewin (hairdresser) and Caplen's (solicitor;, in Princes-street, where it was stopped by a concrete wall. in the other direction ib spread to the Commercial Hotel, to the premises occupied by Mr Wilson (commission agent), Newsham (billiard room), Purcor (hairdresser), Parrington (wine and spirit merchant), tho new Post Office and Courthouse, Faber's stable and the "Star" Oifico, all of, which were totally destroyed. Both sides of Princess-street and half High-street are destroyed, including the Egmont and Commercial Hotels, Loan and Mercantile oflice, and eleven other premises, including the now post otiico, now court house, and buildings adjoining the Bank of New Zealand. The damage is estimated ab £40,000. The insurances so far as as ascertained are as follow : — Egmonb Hotel, owned by Riddiford, occupied by Kolly, £1,700 in tho London and Lancashire. Scott's shop, owned by Riddiford, £100 in tho Imperial. Sample-room owned by Riddiford, £100 in tho Imperial. Sample-room owned by Riddiford, £50 in tho Norwich. Furniture and stock, Egmonb Hobel, £1,250 in tho Phoenix. Scott's stock, £250 iv tho Imperial and £250 in tho United. Commercial Hotel, owned by Hutson, occupied by Hooper, £650 in the Phoenix and £300 in the Norwich. Stock and furniture £450 in tho Phoenix. C. Smith's stock, £500 in the London, Liverpool and Globe. Innes and Co.'s building, £200 in the Commorcial. Plant, stock, machinery, £1,000 in tho New Zealand. Purser's stock, £50 in the North German. Newsham building, including Wilson's office and stock, £260 in the Phoenix. Partington's buildings (including Simmon's shop) and stock in the Phoenix, and £150 in tho North Gorman. Lew-ins', owned by Caplen, £200 in the Phoenix. Kemp's, owned by Riddiford, £150 in the Phcenix. No insurance on tho stocks of Faber, Simmons, Kemp, Cutn_irjgs draper. Scott, bookseller estimates his loss ab over £500. An inquest was held on Augusb 30bh. The jury found that the deaths were caused by an accidental tiro, and added a rider detailing more stringent precautions to be adopted in tho hotol for bho protection of lifo and property in the way of lights, alarm bells, escape ladders, and the employmenb-of nighb porters. Furbher, that a water supply would have prevented much damage, and thab party wails should be of brick, and bho fire brigade bebter equipoed. Mr \V. J. Caverhill, who was burned to death at the Hawera fire, was very well known in Auckland, having been until lately -onager of the Freezing Company's meat bueinesß in Auckland! He leaves a wife and two children. He was latterly Secretary to the Waitara Freezing Works and was proceeding to Wellington to take part in a freezing and prodnco conference to be held there. Mr Caverhill was a prominent member of tho Auckland Agricultural Association, and ho had numerous friencta amongst) the fanning community in the Auckland district. "