GREAT FIRE IN INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 859, 17 August 1888, Page 15

GREAT FIRE IN INVERCARGILL.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Invercargill, August 11.

A fire broke out in Heywood’s Albion Hotel at 2 o’clock this morning, and the building, which was of brick, was speedily in flames. The Brigade was on the scene early, and had a plentiful supply of water from the Funi Creek, but were unable to prevent the destruction of tho hotel, which occupied the site of the block burned down 13 yeays ago. Lewis and Co.’s extensive drapery establishment on the north side paught through a skylight, and fora time it seemed as jf it v?ould sqcoumb, but the efforts to sayo it proved effectual, although a good cjeal of damage was dqne to the stock ip ons department of the building. MeFarlane’s confectionery shop on the south side also ignited more than once, but the strenuous exertions made to save it proved successful, although at the expense of some of the stock. Most of the stock in Sutherland's tobacconist’s shop, under the hotel, was removed. Had tho flames not been subdued, the entire block, in which the New Zealand Insurance Company’s offices, Government Insurance Department, and a number of other places of business are, would have been swept away. '‘lt is supposed that the fire started in'the bar of the hotel. One of the boarders, who hail been working late, went to bed at I.SQ a.m., and then went down to the second floor to put his name on the s’ate to be called early, and, while there, he detected a smell of smoko, and on goiiur to the ground-floor smoke issuing out of the bar. and cried'“ Fire !” but this failing to awake anyone, ho seized the dinner bell kind neyer ceased ringing till everybody wag awakened. A. good number of people were in tfle hqtel, and they just'had time to escape, spine hieing priable $6 foljy drpus, Al) lq3t personal gfleets, and several oompßergial travellers are reported tq be qerio«s sufferers in thi,s way'. A report yrent round that, one man had b.een lost, but all doubt was set pt rest by hi 3 subsequent appearance. The hotel was a favourite resort of travellers from all parts, and one qf the ffngst \p foyvn. Later. The insurances were as follows :—AlbioD Hotel, building in New Zealaud £300.0, partly reinsured. T o furniture a< d stock was insured for £2OOO as under :—New Zealand, £S OO (£250 reinsured) ; Colonial, £1000; No.- th German, £250; and Phamix, t. 250. Lewis iud C' l .l Building, New Zealand, £100)0 ; North German, North ijritifch, £5/O,Q. Stogk (seriously damaged), Sputa British, £10,00; Colonial, £l' Q.O j Rhcguix, £IOOO. Total insurances, £llO5O.