DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1915, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

BIG BLAZE IN OAMARU BY TELEGBA.PH— PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION OAMARU, February 14. A fire was discovered at 3 -ajm in the Star and Garter Hotel of 12 rooms, I of which Mrs Harvey 5s lessee. Tt apparently started in an unoccupied bedroom upstair?, and ,the flames h;icl a big hold when the alarm wa» given. A furious nortK-easter was blowing-, and when the brigade arrived the upper story in the centre of the building , was an inferno . Fortunately as the fire was at ?ts bright the wind lulled preparatory to chopping round to the nor 'west and the brigade gained a matstery, otherwise the whole block in the centre of one of the business portions of the town couldn't have been saveo 1 The Star and Garter's whole upper story, and a third floor of bedrooms m-p«; ciean. swept. Fortunately flhere were few visitors at the time and the inmates escaped with little, several in their night attire 1 only, an,d there were several narrow escapes!. Everything on the lower story was seriously damaged by water The North Otago Olub had rooms in the building, and Mr. G. M. Procter, Chemist, and v Mr Robson, Fruiter rr, were tenants of a part All the property of these was irrevocably destroyed by water, and they are heavy losers. The Star and Garter block is owned by Peyman's Estate, England-, and is administered by the Perpetual Trustees, Dunedin The insurances on the building are not ye? available.- '"* Mrs 'Harvey's furniture was insured' j^r £17)0 in the Standard Co, andi Procter's ,£9O on the stock, and ;&200 <"i flic fittings, £350 in the South P>ritish, and £750 in the National. Rob son's stock and the North Otago Club's furniture were insured for small amounts.