FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 171, 20 July 1903, Page 5

FIRES.

SERIOUS FIRE IN NAPIER.

INSURANCES £ 5480

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NAPIER, Sunday

The oldest shop in Hastings-street, occupied by Messrs Newton and Co., grocers, the 3Caiapoi Woollen Company. Messrs Bennett and Querie, tailors, and the London Dental Company, was destroyed by fire this evening. The fire broke out just before midnight, but it must have been burning for some time previously, as when the flames broke out the whole of the upper storey of the building was in a blaze. Practically nothing- was saved of NewtoLfe.and Co.'s and the Kaiapoi Woollen Co.'s slock, and very little from the others. The fire was fortunately confined to the buildings in which it started. NAPIER, this day. ' Last night's fire in Newton's block was the most serious that has occurred in Napier for some years. The brigade did splendid work, confining the flames to one building. The insurances on the building total £1750, divided as follows: Norwich Union, £500; North Queensland, £400; Standard, £250; South British, £680. NcAvton's stock is insured for £500 in the Imperial, and £250 in the Norwich Union; Bennet and Queer's stock, £ 100 in each Alliance and Phoenix; Dental Company, £250 South British; Kaiapoi Co., £300 in the New Zealand; City Band instruments (majority saved), £300 United.

During the progress of the fire a member of the lire police named George Presling was arrested on a charge of pilfering goods. He was brought before the Court to-day and remanded.