BLAZE AT KARAKA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3994, 26 July 1913, Page 4

BLAZE AT KARAKA.

THREE BUILDINGS DESTROYED. hotel narrowly escapes. bucket brigade to the RESCUE.

Te Karaka was threatened yesterday with what might quite easily have > proved to bo the most disastrous & e experienced in the district for some considerable time. The outbreak commenced in a tobacconist’s shop and billiard saloon on the mam road, leant on to an occupied cottage alongside, swept clean out of existence the premises of the Bank of New Zealand (occupied weekly) and was prevented, from setting the big hotel building alight by the application of many dampened blankets and the energy of a quickly-organised bucket brigade, plus a wealth of good fortune, which steadied down a persistent sou’-wes-terly wind. This already would have coaxed the flames on to the wooden building had it been, say, two more points to the west. , The outbreak occurred with remarkable suddenness. At about 12.30 o’clock Sydney Hefferman, who had the building on lease, left for lunch, and a quarter of an hour later smoke belched out from the front of the shop and the place was soon enveloped m flames. Heffernan explains that lie had no fire in the building, hut that an oil heater was alight in the shaving saloon, alongside the shop. It was immediately impossible for anyone to enter the 'building, and the crowd which had already gathered directed attention towards the cottage next door, occupied by Mr and Mrs Hendley. ’ The furniture and belongings were removed in quick time, but none too soon, for both places were soon burning merrily. It was impossible to do anything in the way of extinguishing the flames, and a set or axes tvere brought into use on the small building of the Bank of New Zealanck in order to prevent the fire spreading! to the hotel. Already the heat was intolerable, hut the workers did not cease until the flames took hold on the half-demolished office. By this time tanks on all sides and the 'well at the back of the hotel were bein'-'- emptied of the water they contained for the purposes of cooling the nearest end cf the hotel. Numbers of blankets were brought into use. and the heat was so great that the fire fighters had to stand hack at times. A change in the wind, however, and the falling or the oank building put a more satLsract-ory face on the position, although the safety of the hotel was uncertain for a long time. Water was poured on the roof, on the balcony, and on the outside walls for some time. All three other buildings were totally destroyed. The tobacconist’s shop was the property of Mr M. McMahon, now of Tauranga. and was occupied by Mr S. Hefferman. who recently leased the business. The building wa s _ insured: in the South British Office for £165 and the stock in the same office for a like amount. The other destroyed buildings were owned by Mr H. F. Northe and the Bank building insured for £75 and the cottage for £IOO. The cottage was valued at £ls-5 and the other building at £l2O. The hotel licensee (Mr. Williams; policy for £llOO on his stock ana furhad a policy for £llOO -cn his stockand furniture in the Royal Office. _ The stock in Heffernan's building: included a yaluatde billiard table.