A BIG FIRE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15746, 13 November 1916, Page 7

A BIG FIRE.

PART OF TAURANGA DESTROYED. LOSS ESTIMATED AT £30,000. (PSESS ASSOCIATION* TKLKGRAK.) TAURANGA. November 12. At 1.45 o'clock this morning a fire broke out "which proved to be one of the most serious ever known in. Tauranga. The flro commenced in Bird's (confectioner), on Tho Strand, almost in tho middle of tho most southerly block <ft' buildings in the town. A strong easterly wind quickly spread tho flames to tho Commercial Hotel, owned and occupied by J. McStay. and tho premises of Tor ran Co (draper), D. W oil am s (stationer), lnnes (jeweller), Norris and Bell (land agents), Mears (photographer), Murdoch (jeweller), (Jrosley (tailor), Dromgool (solicitor), Gordon and Hammond's timber yard, and H. M. Griffiths's motor garage. By o o'clock nothing rcmained_ but twisted iron and smouldering debris. The firo burnt with great fierceness, nothing being left of the premises or stock except "what small quantities wer© removed. Inncs (jeweller) liad time to remove most of his stock, and save some valuables from tho cafe. Meers (photographer) was not insured and everything. _ MeStay's loss is not yet ascertainable but it must bo considerable. Bird, whoso loss is total, is covered by insurance. . Torrance (draper) estimates his loss at £1000 above tho insurance. Murdoch (jeweller) had a small insurance, his loss being almost total. Tho valuables left in the eafo were almost totally destroyed. Croslcy (tailor) saved nearly all nis stock, and Dromgool (solicitor) 6aved his books and papers, except a few which "were in the safe. Griffiths's motor garago also went, bnt tho cars were removed in good time. Tho shop was saved, although, it caught fire several times. ' The fire spread into Hammond s timber yard, and burnt tho stock of joineiry and timber in the racks, J ll1 * the solid stacks and wet rimn, stacked on end. stayed its further progress toward tho south. Tho brick wall of a building owned by Mr Spenco (Hawera) stopped the fire, and after burning round into Wharf street, in the other direction, a vacant section prevented it doing farther damage. . , , _ Tho premises occntucd by lnnes, Meers, Norris and Bell, and Wollams were owned by Mrs Tennant (Te Kuiti). tho Commercial Hotel by Mr J. McStay, and the remaining shops by Mr P. Munro. . It is impossible at present to obtain an accurate statement of the instances', but the following are known: — £ Run 1460 Guardian . 14 ™ Commercial Union ... ••• •JJ'u Alliance ... ••• — Queensland ••• ••• New Zealand ••• — Atlas ... Standard ... 1400 The total loss in regard to buildings and stock is roughly estimated at not less than £30.000. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. Tho Fire : Board has ordered an enqiMr Gumbly, Superintendent of the Brigade, felf off the Toof of a bnildin<r. and injured his leg. The Brigade worked well, but it was impossible to stay the fire with the heavy- wind in such a mass of old wooden buildings.