RAURIMU FIRE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18566, 16 December 1925, Page 8

RAURIMU FIRE.

A DESOLATE SCENE. HEROIC EFFORTS TO SAVE BUILDINGS. AID LENT BY PRISONERS. N (P&ESS ASSOCIATION TEUEGBAM.) TATTMARUNUI, Dooember 10. Between half-past three and four yesterday, a disastrous fire broke out at Raurimu, 26 miles south of Taumarnnui, completely gutting the business portion. Eleven premises were destroyed. The firo commenced in the Spiral Hotel, upstairs. An alarm was given, flames spread with lightning rapidity on each side of the hotel. A hundred workers formed a bucket brigade undet Mr Hudson, and Gaoler The firo worked to the post office where a vauant effort arrested its progress, otherwise the whole of the main street would have been gutted. Waikuno prisoners, under some danger, removed goods from Messrs Hudson's and Merriken's stores to the hall. The trenjendous heat made the work difficult. Lack of water also impeded the workers. Flames and sparlis burnt goods in the station yard two chains away. The firo had lasted about three hours when the Post Office was saved. Homeless residents were accommodated in garages and in the police cells for the night.

The following premises were destroyed :—W. Clark's »tore, vacant, insurance not available; F. J. Karam, general storekeeper, loss estimated at £4OOO, no insurances; W. Hudson, general storekeeper, total loss; insurances, shops and dwellings in the main street j £2550, stock and furniture, £BOO, estimated value £5000; Mrs P. W. Smith, bakery, owned by Mr Hudson, loss on stock estimated at .£100; Spiral Hotel, owned and occupied by Geoff Martin, no particulars available*; estimated loss £2506; E. Temperton, general store, loss estimated at £1000; insurances, stock £350. (The buildings were owned by Mr J. 13. Sherlock, Tauranga): Rail- j way Hotel, owned and occupied by Tom McDonald, estimated loss, £3000; no I insurances; dwelling occupied by Mrs J Cammock; E. S. Merriken's general store, an empty boarding-house, a gar- I and stable owned by Nicholson and Gribbin, Auckland, insurances not available: estimated loss, £SOOO. Mr Merriken's stock-was insured for £I6OO. The total estimated cost of til© destruction is £20,000. Many attempts were marie to stem tho progress of the, fire. Bullocks were used to drag walls out. Charges of gelignite in the building next to the Post Office failed, but workers pushed the wall and chimney over. Continual water on the Post Office arrested the fire, and saved the remainder, of the block. ' The township of Raurimu is a desolate Scone to-day. There are only drapery and a butchery left of the buiness places. The fire is a severe Eat-back to Raurimu, which is the step- | ping off place for toairiat traffic to, National Park and Retaruke Valley, and to the Wanganui River.