THE FIRE AT TAURANGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6098, 3 June 1881, Page 6

THE FIRE AT TAURANGA.

[PB.OM OCR OVTS CORRESPONDENT.] Tattranga, "Wednesday evening. A.T 8 o'clock last night the tov/n was alarmed l»y the tolling of bells, a sure indication that fire had broken out. The inhabitants, with One move, were out, anxiously inquiring ■where, where ? The Strand was the attraction, where it was soon discovered that the large store of Mr. Lee was on fire. There was here a difficulty in getting in, inasmuch as only a few minutes before Mr. Lee had locked up the building, believing all was safe, and left for his residence at the top of "Wharf-street. The back door of the building •was forced open, and there was no lack of volunteers willing and ready to assist with buckets. The tide was favourable, being high water, but unfortunately there was no engine, and there was nothing for it but -what physical labour could render with buckets. The wind was blowing from the eastward, direct on to the Strand. The fire -rapidly spread, and with such a force that there was no prospect of stemming its rage. The natives were fortunately in.force, attending the Lands Court, and rendered willing and valuable assistance to the neighbours in clearing away their effects. Ellis, bootmaker, with Carter, bookseller, were soon cleared out ; some of the goods were deposited on board boats which were lying off the Breakwater, others piled up their stores to windward of the fire.

Then came the immediate danger to Menzies' large and commodius hotel. This was no sooner divested of a portion of its valuables than it was discovered to be on Sre, and hopelessly, for want of power, for all attempts now became futile. The fire was now at its height, and danger was rapidly extending right and left. Theve was here a -wall separating the large, handsome billiard-room from the offices and building of the Bay of Plenty Times. The fire and heat, however, soon ignited the building, and'that •fine building, with all its printing appliances, ■was soon a heap of ashes. . , The large new brick warehouses, offices, stores, and dwelling of Mr. Thomas Wrigley, -which were considered impenetrable, began to yield through the wooden framework of the windows, and then the town became full of excitement and intense sorrow, for these buildings were the ornament and pride of the district, and Mr. Wrigley was considered ■the soul of energy and honest enterprise. Uothing could be devised to save them. Mr. "Wrigley was so confident from the commencement of the fire that his property was safe that it was not until the fire had got hold of the buildings that he permitted his immense stock to be removed: It was then too late. The intense heat from these buildings, with the force of the wind, soon communicated with the opposite side of, the jroad, and in a few minutes the Mechanics' -Institute was in flames. It is said a.portion t)f the library was saved. Mr. R. C. Jordan's large new warehouses, which had within the last few weeks been stocked with breadstuffs from the South, and' more recently with a large ship's cargo from Hoktrt, was discovered air in flame?, and was soon reduced to ashes. Adjoining this was a twostorey building unoccupied, belonging to Mr. John Chadwick, which was soon in a mas 3 of flames, and was reduced to the • ground. The buildings to the rear of these were fortunately saved. The timber-yard adjoining the Mechanics', and belonging to Mr. Jordon, was partially destroyed. At this juncture the Government Buildings were in great danger. Every pre-caution was.taken. The fire was fortunately averted by the persevering efforts of the heads of the several departTments connected, the roof being covered ■with willing hands, throwing water all around. The buildings south of the spot where the fire commenced, limning up the Strand and Hamilton-street, belonging to Mr. Bonner, boot and shoemaker; Mr. ."Pielden, storekeeper and fruiterer.; Mr. McKinney, boarding-house keeper and fruiterer; Messrs. Rhodes and Son, boot and shoe warehouse; these were all consumed in the general conflagration, and along with them were a few cottages and the offices of George A. Douglass, of Motiti. Mr. John Chadwick, who is the owner of the premises of Messrs. Lee, Ellis, Carter, Menzies' Tauranga Hotel, and the printing offices of the Bay of Pleuty Times, is a very severe sufferer, but is fortunately insured. Mr.; Thomas TVrigley is also a very heavy losei - , his loss being computed at about £12,000.

, Dr. Cinders , residence, the property of Mr. Edgcombe, Waikato, narrowly escaped entire destruction, a portion of it being twice on fire, but through the exertions of Messrs. Hulme and Meehan the blaze was each time extinguished. The natives rendered valuable and willing assistance, nor were the settlers of the district behind in their efforts to render assistance by every possible means. Many who had joined a ball party of the elite of the district, and were just preparing for their evening's amusement, were disappointed, and were to be seen in the midst of the throng aiding and assisting. An inquest will probably be held, and we shall then know correetly how matters stand. THE INQUEST. TELEGRAPH. —OVTS CORRESPONDENT.] Tauranga, Thursday. An inquest was commenced this morning, Captain Tovey, as Coroner, is instituting an inquiry into the late fire. A respectable jury was empanelled. Captain Morris is foreman. After inspecting the smouldering embers, the inquest was adjourned till next Monday. The excitement occasioned still .continues very intense on account of the heavy losses and the hairbreadth escapes. A more mature examination shows that the whole loss is from £30,000 to £40,000. Our enterprising local journal purposes issuing from the. new offices on Saturday next. The manager left yesterday for Auckland to procure a new press and printing material.