GREAT FIRE IN TONGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10074, 9 March 1896, Page 5

GREAT FIRE IN TONGA.

DAMAGE £7000. ffROM ODH OWH CORKK3POMDKNT.] Tokoa, February 29. As lash month we had to chronicle an event which clouded all others in men's minds here—namely, the hurricane which devastated Haapai, so on the present occasion we have to tell of an occurrence which throws all the other events of the month into the background, and which has touched us here in Tonga more nearly than the " blow " 60 miles away. The allusion is to the large conflagration on the evening of the Bth inotant on the premises of Forsyth, Schultz, and Co. (limited) here, by which the large trading stores of that firm were burned to the ground. As many of your readers probably know, this firm holds a front rank amongst importers in this kingdom, and their premises are very extensive, and stock large. The building burned was that which contained the bulk of their stock of goods. It had stood a good number of years, and was dry enough ; without counting that, we had had previous to the fire ft couple of months of dry weather, so that there was no chance of Raring it, once the fire took hold. Fortunately there was little wind on the night of the conflagration, and the exertions of the staff and others were successful in savin? the copra sheds and office and their contents. Some small portion of the stock was also saved. It was the biggest affair of the kind that we have had in Tonga, and naturally a very large crowd gathered, among which it was a difficult matter to preserve order, and a good deal of pilfering is reported. Fortunately for the firm, the loss is well covered by insurance, the company mostly, if not altogether, concerned being the London and Lancashire, for whom Forsyth, SchultZ; and Company are themselves agents. In the absence, on leave, of our DeputyCommissioner, the Tongan Government | were appealed to to hold an inquiry into the matter. They consented, and appointed Mr. C. D. Whitoombe, proiiding magistrate. The finding of this court of inquiry was very plain, namely, that the fire actually I took place, that damage to the extent of | about £7000 resulted, that the damage was covered by insurance, and that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. No doubt the fire causes a good deal of confusion in the operations of Forsyth and Company, but they have alroady started rebuilding, and on a larger scale, and we shall probably find them ready for anything again by the time the dull season is over.