Large Fire at Lyell.

Hastings Standard, Issue 31, 2 June 1896, Page 3

Large Fire at Lyell.

TWENTY BUILDINGS BURNED. Keepton, June 2. A di-astrou= fire took place at Lyell at 11.80 last night. It appears that it originated under the old Commercial Hotel, owned and occupied by Mr Fennell as a merchandise store-room and as sleeping rooms for self and acemployes. The fire spread rapidly, the occupants only escaping with their lives through the windows over the verandah. In a few minutes the whole of the street was on lire, the National Bank, Ryan's store and dwelling house, Roberts' and Barclay's houses to the south were all completely burned. On the north side Fennell .? store, two store-rooms, and the Empire Hotel next caught, and were gutted. The store was occupied by Bennett and owned by Fennell. Next, on the other side of the road, Atkins', the Lyell Times Oilice, Brown's shop and dwelling, Carmine (bootmaker), Tennett's drapery store, Holinan's store, M'Farlane's Criterion Hotel, were ail burning at one time and completely destroyed. Nothing but a heap of twisted iron shows in the street. The cause is unknown, but it originated in Fennell's, who is the principal loser of six buildings, store, hotel, and contents, with no insurance. In all 20 buildings were burned.