GREAT FIRE AT HAWERA.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 53, 30 August 1895, Page 2

GREAT FIRE AT HAWERA.

¦* SEVENTEEN BUILDINGS DESTROYED. THE COURTHOUSE, POST OFFICE, AND TWO HOTELS AMONG THEM. At 1.20 o'clook this morning the Seoretary of the General Post Office reoeived the following telegram from the Postmaster at Hawera :— " At 1 a.m. the Egmont Hotel, Commercial Hotel, and several other places on fire. Have bod roof of old office pnt ont twice. Don't expeot to be able to save new office. "If no communication in the morning may expeot both are destroyed." At 10.45 a.m. the following message arrived :— "In continuation of my wire at 1 10 a.m. Both Bides Princes-street and half Highstreet destroyed, inolnding Egmont and Commeroial Hotels, office of New Zealand Loan and Mercantile, and eleven business premises, inclusive of new Post Office, new Courthouse, and premises 'adjoining Bank of New Zealand. " Damage estimated at JeW.OOO. Have saved part of instruments in the new building and part of same in old. " Poles and wire destroyed for about five ohains. "Will get constructing party from Hurleyville to-day to effeot repairs." TWO MEN BURNED TO DEATH. THE CENTRE OF THE TOWN BURNT OUT. lbt tiliqiupii. — p bibb association.] Hawera, This Dat. Last sight's firo broke out in Mr. CSmith's drape) y shop, asd spread to tbe Egmont Hotel bo rapidly that all the boarders had not time to escape. Mr. W. J. Caverhill, Secretary to the Waitara Freezing Wdrka, and Mr. A. Turner, an architect and oarpenter, were burned to death. The fire spread to the premises of Messrs. Nimmo Scott (stationer), Kemp, Cohen, Cummins (draper), Lcwin (hairdresser), ana Caplen (solioitor), iv Prinoosc-street, where it wag stopped by a concrete wall. ° In the other direction it spread to the Commercial Hotel and the premises of Messrs. Wilson (commissjon agent), Newsham (billiard-room;, Parser (hairdresser), Parrington (wine and spirit merchant), the now Post Office, the Courthouse, Faber's stables, and Star ofiioe, all of whioh were totally dostroyed. There was a north-west gale blowing at tho time. The centre of the town is cleared. The fire was caused by an ill-fitting lamp in Smith's falling.