GREAT FIRE IN TAIHAPE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 654, 2 March 1909, Page 5

GREAT FIRE IN TAIHAPE.

THIRTEEN PREMISES DE STROYED.

A CLEAN SWEEP. NO WATER AVAILABLE. (Press Association). Wellington, Last Night. A message from Taihape states that a most destructive fire oconrred this^evening. A* whole blook in Main street and Station Btreet was totally dsetroyed. Thirteen business premises were gutted. The Are started in Whaler Bros,' boot shop and spread rapidly right and left. Fortunately it was a oalminight,' The premises of the following were destroyed :- Ellis and Darvill, storekeepers. MoPherson, tailor. Niohol, jeweller. Finoh, stationer—two-storey. Labour Department. J. P. Aldridge, insurance agent. Hautipo Tea Rooms. Whitoombe, dentist. Wong Kee, fruiterer. Jones, painter. Hodgson, plumber. Garner, Seed raerohant. Not a stick of timber was left.

TJio Polioe Sergeant's residenoe and shops opposite were only saved by strenuous exertions. The orowd worked willingly. The Fire Brigade woto jnsfc proceeding by tram to Auckland for the demonstration, bnt remained behind. Their servioes were of little use as no water was available. The insurances as far as at present ascertained are:-Hodgson, £3OO in the Norwich Union; Whaler, £250 in the Australian Alliance jMoPherron, £250 in the same office; Niohola, £3OO in the South British; Garner, stock £2OO. and on the building, owned by Gibbons, £IOO, both in the Commercial Union; Whitcombe, stook £l5O in the Oommeroial Union; Finoh £9OO on the stook valaed at £ISOO, in the Sun, and on personal effects £SO in the New Zealand offioe, loss over that £150; JSllis and DarviJl, who have the lagest business, are insured in the Alliance, but the amount is not known. ;;;,%« ■■■■ZS9B The progress of the fire was eventually stopped by polling down the buildings adjoining the Polioe Station.