BLAZE AT WAIHI.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 71, 24 March 1919, Page 7

BLAZE AT WAIHI.

BUSINESS PREMISES BURNED

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £25,000. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIHI, this day. One of the most disastrous conflagrations experienced in Waihi occurred at three o'clock on Sunday morning in the main street. A strong gale was blowing.

The following premises were completely destroyed: —

Hetherington's, L/td., drapers. Hague Smith. Ltd., ironmongers. The Stirling Private Hotel, owned and occupied by Mr. J. L. Stevens.

■Meehan's stables (late Manning). The fire made a clean sweep of this lot. '

The premises of Mr?. Rowney (stationer and fancy goods). Pay (butcher), and the Waihi Sample Rooms were also damaged.

The estimated total damr.<re is in the vicinity of £i!, 000.

The fire originated at the back of the premises of Hague Smith. Ltd., and the alarm was given by Constable Olsen, who was on night duty".

Owing to a strong south-westerly gale the flames spread rapidly, and attacked the opposite block, the premi-es of 31r. Say (butcher) being first to .-uflVr. The brigade, though having- an uphill fight against the wind, managed to stop the advance of the flames in this direction, and thus prevented the destruction of the whole block.

The heat and smoke were terrific, and several members of the brigade were badly affected.. A falling chimney struck Superintendent Steel on the head, but hi.s helmet saved him from serious injuries. Cars and other vehicles in Mcehan's stables were saved, but witii this exception practically everything was destroyed. DAMAGE AND IXSrRAM'K. Hague Smith's, Ltd.. carried a stockvalued at about £40(10. and Hetherington's stock was valued at over £7000. Both were total looses. The two buildings were worth upwards of €(11(10. The Stirling boardinghouse, on which there was no insurance, wa-i valued at £3.i00. The garage and stables owned by Mr. J. L. Stevens, valued at about £.">on, were not insured. Say's premi-H s were insured with the South British Otlice for £450. the plant and stock, and the plateglass with the same office for £040. As far as can lie ascertained £150 will cover the total loss.

Hague Smith's t»o building" were insured for £1150. and stock t::>000 in the Australian Alliance.

Hetherington's buildings and stock are insured in various offices for about £6.000, and their loss is estimated to exceed this by between £3000 and £4000.

The shop adjoining Hetherington's, occupied by Mrs. Rownev. β-tationer and fancy goods dealer, is owned by Miss K. Paul, of Auckland. The-e premises suffered damage to one wall, and the stock was damaged by water.