DISASTROUS FIRE AT OHAKUNE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 38, 8 November 1917, Page 6

DISASTROUS FIRE AT OHAKUNE

TWENTF SHOPS DESTROYED

LACK OF FIRE-FIGHTING APPLIANCES

By Telegraph—Prees Association. Taihape, November 7. A disaetrous fire occurred at Ohakune, originating in the Defence Office at 12.30 this morning. Twenty shops and their contents in the busnicss centre of the town wero completely destroyed. In tho absence of water and firo-fishting facilities, the Fire Brigade and public were helpless in stemming the flames. A stiff breeze carried Hie fire till there was nothing further to burn in its course. Nothing remains but ii mass of charred and smouldering irreckage. II: is estimated that the damage done will run well into five figures. The people who havo been, burned out, and the buildings destroyed, are:— Lyttle, painter, shop and dwelhng, Gould, solicitor. Goodman, confectioner, shop and dwelling. Anderson, second-haud dealer,' shop and dwelling. Forsyth, bookseller, shop and dwelling. Three unoccupied shops. Mrs. Hoot, confectioner, shop and dwelling. Butler, drapery and storeroom. , Ah Duck King," grocer's shop and dwell-

ing. Ooffey, billiard-room and dwelling. Turner's hairdressing saloon and tobacconist shop. Two empty shops. Lee Choic fruiterer. Keily's shop,. The Defence Office, and the gymnasium. Allen and Co., butcher's shog. One empty shop. Cunninjhame, chemist. Butler's drapery shop was the best shop in the town. Half an hour after the alarm wns given the Ohaknne streets were alive with people. A band of volunteer fire fighters was quickly organised, but the only water available lieing a creek nearby, the angry lambent flnmps leaped from building to building and high into the air. brilliantly illuminating the surrounding landscape, nnd endangering buildings some distance nway. Had the wind changed the whole settlement would have been wiped cut. After the wind-driven iire had lapped up all the buildings in its course, it reached over to tho bnsh, which is still burning, but not menacingly. The fire originated in the Defence gymnasium, but the actual cause is not inoirii. The insurances so far as obtainable are:— Lyttle, .£450 on building,. £M on stock, in Liverpool, London, and Globe. Gould, .£IOO on building, .£l5O on furniture, in Norwich Union. Forsyth, ,£350 in the Gnaidian, and •ffiiCO in flic British Dominions on stock and furniture. Mrs. Hook. £M on stock, in the Sun. Butler, JJ3SO on building, ,£2OOO on stork, in the Guardian. Ah Duck Kin?, .£3OO on building, .£7OO on stock, in the Gunrdinn. CrtfFey, billfnrd rooih ant] contents, IC3!iO in Hip Guardian. Turner, .£l5O in (he Guardian. Cunningham?., ,£IBO in the United.