FOXTON IN FLAMES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 143, 3 June 1912, Page 5

FOXTON IN FLAMES.

NO BRIGADE AND NO WATER.

TWELVE SHOPS, A CHURCH, SALOON AND RESIDENCES BURNED. -

Palmerston North, June 3. The most destructive fire in the history of Foxton occurred yesterday morning, resulting in twelve shops, the Methodist church, billiard saloon, and a private residence being completely demolished. > The list of places destroyed is as follows :•*— Methodist church.

Billiard saloon, owned by Constable Green (Bulls), and occupied by Messrs. Martin and Rangi). Mrs. E. A. Newth, confectionery shop. Mr. A. R. Osborne’s tailor’s shop. Mr. A. W. Bradley, tailorts shop.-' Mesdames J. B. Henderson and Cunningham’s confectionery shop. Mr. W. E. Bullard’s saddlery shop. Mr. R. T. Betty, bootmaker’s shop. Mr. Thos. Wqodroffe’s butchery. Mrs. A. M. Nye’s stationery shop. Messrs. Tatton, Son, and Boyes, dental rooms.

Mr. E. Healey, chemist’s shop. The motor garage. Mr. E. E. Snow, bootmaker’s shop. Residence occupied by Mr. Martin, one of the lessees of the billiard room. . j .

The fire is supposed to have started in shop of Mrs. Nye, and was first discovered between 1 and 2 o’clock a. in. >

The weather was windy with occasional showers of rain. The flames had a good hold, and the buildings being of wood and close together presented an easy prey to the fire.

The absence of a fire brigade and water service made attmpts at firefighting futile. The owners and spectators simply had to stand by and watch the flames in their onward march.

The fire was checked at the rightof way- next Mark Perreau's tearooms, the building being composed of brick.

Many of the buildings destroyed were w’ell-known landmarks.

A good deal of stock was saved from the various buildings. Messrs. Tatton, Son, and Boyes, dentists, and Mrs. Nye were the only sufferers who lost everything.

The Methodist church was comparatively a new building; the furnishings were saved.

Mr. Healey’s chemist shop was also recently erected. No insurances are yet available, and it is impossible to estimate the damage. Another outbreak occurred on the Tram road at Foxton this morning, between 1 and 2 o’clock. A six-room-ed house owned by Alf. Wright, trainer, was destroyed. It was occupied by- one or two of his men. LATER DETAILS. The fire originated in either Mrs Nye’s shop or Boyes’ rooms, both being in the same building. The fire spread both ways, going north and demolishing the premises of Messrs. Woodroffe, Bullard, Henand Cunningham, Osborne and Newth’s restaurant. Then a twelve feet high brick wall stopped its progress. Going south the fire demolished the Methodist church, billiard saloon and house. Healey's chemist’s shop and Snow’s bootshop, ending in. Boyle’s motor garage about 5 a.m. Cylinders containing gas in Bove’s, chemists, rooms exploded with a terrific report, and one of the cylin ders was found embedded in the Post Office fence a hundred yards away. A thunderstorm burst on the town when the fire had been raring for I some time, and rain faring tor- | rents helped larg ■”> t-.i .ad-'am- the . fire. I People blocked l.i;e vn t e>1 channels, and fro.n tins t.aicr -a; ply a good bucket •■." u-r x?. kept up. Some of the building■■ wer<- very old and none were very l.ira >. The poll of the ratepay a-, t< go in for a water supply was > euily rejected.