DISASTROUS FIRE AT TE AROHA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10037, 25 January 1896, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE AT TE AROHA.

THE CLUB HOTEL DESTROYED.

AN INMATE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

NINE OTHER BUILDINGS BURNED.

. NARROW ESCAPES. A HEAVY BLOW TO THE TOWNSHIP. (Br TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Tk Aroha, Friday. A most disastrous fire took place here thii morning on the west side of Whlfcakerstreet, whereby the Club Hotel and nine other buildings were completely destroyed.

The fire started in the hotel about halfpast three o'clock in the morning, and is thought by the leasee, Mr. Sohultse, to havo originated in the card-room.

All the inmates were asleep, Mr. Schultze being awakened by his wife, who gave the alarm. Mr. Schultze rushed upstairs to awaken tho boarders, of whom there were fortunately only two, but the fire had too groat a hold, and ho was driven baok by the smoko.

Those upstairs gob out by the windows, and had a very narrow esoape for their livos.

Mr. Hubert Cox, son of Mr. E. Y. Cox, of Shaftesbury, sustained very severe injuries while getting through the window. He was badly cut about tho arms by broken glass, and besides being severely burned. He was carried to the Springs Hotel, whore his injuries are being attended to by Dr. Coopor and Mr. Robinson, chemist. Tim ptoporties burned wore occupied by J. Woods, butoher; F. Tonge, draper; R. Brennan, shoemaker; Club Hotel; Park Boarding-house, Calder's; fruit) shop; Waters, draper ; S. Bygrave, fruit shop j F. Batten, watchmaker ; F. Barber, boot* maker ; all of which were burned to the ground. A large number of willing workers were soon on the spot, and were instrumental In saving a lot of furniture and personal effects.

The buildings being all wooden and closely built, nothing could be done to prevent the fire spreading as it did. There was a light breeze blowing, which fortunately shifted slightly after the fire had been raging for some time. This and the opportunity afforded by an open space enabled the workers to confine the flames and save Mr. MoKee's house.

Had tho wind blown in the same direction, the probability is that the whole street would have been burned. Mr. Schultze only managod to save his natch and chain and cash-box.

Great sympathy is felt for Mr. Calder and his family, who are heavy losers through Park House being burned. They have only recently arrived, and have spent a lot of money in renovating the place and putting it in first-class order. The family only managed to save the clothes they wore, and are heavy losers in that respect. Many clothes and personal effects belonging to boarders have been destroyed. Mr. Morrison, an invalid boarder, had a very narrow escape. He was unable to move himself, and was carried out almost at the last minute.

At present the insurance risks cannot) be definitely ascertained, but the following Is a fairly correot estimate Norwich Union, £50; United, £350; North German, £150. The New Zealand Insurance Company are the heaviest losers, their risk being estimated at about £2000. Some of the buildings were not insured. Mr. Cox, who was injured, was to have left this morning for Auckland to be married. Later.

The fire this morning was not without its exciting features, as the escape of Mr. Hubert Cox was a miraculous one. Being somewhat deaf his cousin, Mr. Lsngton, a solicitor from Home, and who was sleeping at the same house, had some difficulty in awakening him, When Mr. Cox opened the door he was met by a sheet of flame, which burned Ilia hands and face. About this time he began to lose consciousness, and was almost overcome when he reached the window leading to the balcony. He had not the pretence of mind to raise the window, but forced himself through the glass, thereby cutting himself very severely, particularly about the arms. When on the balcony he made an effort to to reach the verandah post in order to make his descent, but being in a dazed condition he lost his hold and fell a considerable distance to the ground, which has given him iv severe shaking. Dr. Cooper states that he is progressing favourably. Mr. Cox estimated his loss in personal effects to be £50.

Mr. Langton has also suffered in this respect, as he has loss to the extent of £70, besides having his return ticket and letters of credit destroyed, The case of the Calders, at Park House, is particularly hard. They are recent arrivals in Te Aroha, and bought Park House from the Estates Company. They estimate their lost at £350 over their insurance, as practically nothing was saved. Some lady boarders had gone down to Paeroa on a visit, leaving all tffeir luggage, including sorao new and costly dresses. These, of course, have all been destroyed. Mr. F. Tonge is also a heavy loser, as he was uninsured. He tried only rocently to effect an insurance, but the company declined, as they have always considered the blook a risky one, Altogether this disaster is a great misfortune to the town, as it is more serious than the one which occurred three years ago. Mast of the buildings had just been renovated, the occupants anticipating better times, in view of the mining spurt. It may be a long while before the unsightly gap, caused by thg tiro, is filled np with new buildings. The disaster has onco again shown the necessity for some organisation to check such destruction. With a good natural water supply the apathy of the Town Board and inhabitants generally in that respect, seems almost orimiual. As matters stand at present, given a (food start and a favourable wind, and nothing oan slop a fire from making a clean sweep of the town.

It is only fitting that the names of Messrs. Dickson, Wallace, Mclndoe, Bain, Maingay, MoKee, Constables Wild, Uevy, Wild junr., Reid, and Gilchrist, who rendered valuable assistance in saving property and checking tho fire, should be mentioned.

The Town Board are having the debris collected, and the standing chimneys, which were a menace to passero for. bare been pulled down.

The insurances so far as they have been ascertained are as follow s—Club Hotel and Park House, New Zealand Insurance, £17?5, re-insured for £825 in the National, the United, Alliance, Standard, and Norwich Union for £165 each. There was also an insurance of £2000 in tho North British on the Club Hotel, apd this company (in* also a qmall insurance on the stock, find the United has a polioy of £300 on the stock and furniture of the hotel, but are reinsured with tho North Queensland for £150. Bromner had his stook insured for £50 in the United. Mr. Bygrove, fruiterer, had his stock insured with the National for £140, and Mrs. M. Kenny, boardinghousekeeper, had her furniture insured in the same office for £180..