GREAT FIRE AT KARANGAHAKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 278, 24 November 1898, Page 6

GREAT FIRE AT KARANGAHAKE.

EIGHT . BUILDINGS DESTROYED

DAMAGE ABOUT £5,000.

PAEROA, October 29

The most destructive fire yet known in Ka-rangahake broke out at midnight last evening and resulted in>the total destruction of eight buildings, principally stores. The fire originated on the premises of S< James, baker. Mr James was catering- for the footballers' ball and had returned about 10 o'clock for cake, entering the shop,,and it is state- striking a match to get the cake. When the fire .was discovered subsequently it had a firm hold and spread with fearful rapidity, seizing upon Adams' drapery store on one side and Price's drapery and grocery store on the other side. A crowd quickly congregated, and the Karangahake iFire Brigade ran out their manual engine, but the only supply of water available was the river, and no force could be obtained. The brigade worked well, but the greater part of the crowd refused to lend any assistance in working the engine. The Peeroa Brigade, attracted by the glare, turned out under Lieut. Moore, and were on the scene in an incredibly short space of time, rendering valuable assistance in preventing the spread of the fire beyond the block. They received a great ovation for their efforts from the public. Valuable assistance was rendered by a number of individuals, conspicuous amongst them being Messrs Foss, Brcwn, Kitching, White, Hutchinson, P. Knowies, J. Barrett, and J. Reisterer. Altogether the following places were destroyed:—Adams Bros.' drapery; .Price and Co.'s general store; Dudso'n's butchery; James' bakery; Koberts' boardinghouse; Retallick's bonrdinghouse; McWatter's grocery. The insurances so far as known are as follows: —

Retallick's building, owned by Mc"Watter, store and building insured in the North Queensland for £150; stock for £300 in the National; half reSnnsured ■in North Queensland.

Rctallick's boardinghouse, £150 in the North Queensland; also a building alongside unoccupied, £ICC jn the Sun Qffve.

James' bakery, building £100; stock, fixtures, etc., £50 :.n the National and £100 in tbc Northern.

Adams' Bros.' stock, £600 in three offices, National, Phoenix and Magdeburg. Price's building, £435 in the United (£IOO re-insured in the New Zealand and £100 in the Norwich 'Union); stock uninsured. Loss over £1,000.

Dudson's stock, ±70 in the Northern and Standard.

•Roberts' furniture, £60 inline Northern.

Adams' and Roberts' and- Dudson's buildings were owned by Mr James Barrett, of Faeroa.The insurances are not known.

The total losses by the fire are estimated at £5,000.

Disgraceful scenes of thefts of rescued stock occurred, men taking off old coats and putting on new, fitting on boots in the middle of the road, carrying off suits of clothes, bags of sugar, etc.—-in fact, anything. The police did everything possible, but could not prevent these thefts, though ■•he names of fully a dozen of the most prominent offenders were takon. Jt is stated that Mr McWatter's manager found a man endeavouring to open the till in bis shop and stopped him.

Several ladies rendered valuable assistance in removing and protecting goods, but unfortunately I could only obtain the names of the Mi&ses McClymont and Dette.

At 3.30 this morning a fire broke oiit in a block opposite the Palace Hotel, Te Aroha, anu destroyed the premises occupied by Crombie, photographer, and Agnew and Pilkington's general store, also a si vithy formerly occupied by Havtneady. Crombic's place was insured for £100.