Untitled

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5404, 18 December 1888, Page 2

To-day is the anniversary of tho groat firo in Napier. Two years ago, on December 18th, a lighted match, accidentally thrown into somo straw strown around some packing eases at tho rear of Messrs Banner and Liddle's store, sot iire to the building, and in an incredibly short time a conflagration commenced that defied overy effort to extinguish. Tho wholo block of buildings between Emorson and Tennyson streets was in flames, and no ono could say where the fire would end. On both sides of Tennyson street there were burning buildings, and i (he beat of (be Jjre set several houeee alight I

on the south side of Emerson street. The roof of the old Provincial Chambers was-on fire, and the church and the parsonage were threatened with destruction. From Hastings street to Dalton street nothing could be seen but sheets of name and smoke. The destruction of so large a portion of the town involved terrible losses that no insurance could cover, the effect of which will be felt for many a long year. Time, however, has hidden all this from tho public eye, and to all outward appearance the town and its inhabitants have greatly prospered by thoir misfortune. Again we take this opportunity of expressing our thanks for the kindly sympathy shown to us this day two year's ago.