FIRE AT HASTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 191, 7 May 1908, Page 9

FIRE AT HASTINGS.

A BREWERY BURNED. LOSS £2000 OVER INSURANCE. (DT TEI.EGRAFH. —SPECIAI, CORBESPOMDENT.) Hastings, May 6. Newbiciii's brewery was burnt to tho ground .this morning. Tho Firo Brigado arrived on tho scene, but- there was no available water nearer than Hcrotaunga-Street, about a quarter, of a mile away.- Captain Brausch tried two creeks in the, locality, but they were both dry for all practical purposes, and tlie men had to look on at the conflagration without being able to make any offort to stem the flames, leaving the. edifice to bo burnt to the ground. The brewery was surrounded by rows-of closely-planted poplar trees, and, notwithstanding that a fairly strong brcezo was blowing from the northeast, theso served. to keep the firo from spreading. A cottago situated next door to the burning nilo was at one time in serious danger, ancl tho firemen directed their attention to protecting it, with tho result that th'o hous'e escaped with a bad scorching on tho side next tho firo.' Tho' newly-formed Fire Police wore also present, and did yeoman work as a bucket brigado on tho outskirts of'tho fire by preventing;it from advancing on tho stables and outbuildings. As a salvago corps there, was littlo need for their, sorvices, as when tho alarm was given tho fire had such a hold that it was impossible to save much, but they' got out about thirty cases and some barrels. Mr, Ncwbigin, who resides only a short distance from tho browery, arrived in time to rescue the books from tho offico. , . . Tho causo of tho fire is unknown, but it, is thought to have started' in the wine, andspirit department, spreading to. tho. main" structure. Mr.'.. No'wbigin visited tho -'promises last, and thero was thou 110 indication of fire. Ho says th'o firo has entailed' a sevorc loss on him, as lie had large quantities of winos (including champagno), spirits, and , beer stocked, all of which wero destroyed. . , Tho building was insured in tho Rational for £850, and tho stock in tho Allianco for £400, but tho owner says his loss is not more than half covered. Tho outbuildings, as well as tho bottling storo and aerated water factory adjoining, escaped. Mr., Nowbigin estimates his loss at £2000 over the insurance.