FIRES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4289, 23 February 1901, Page 3

FIRES.

’DISASTER AT FEILDING. SUSPICION OF INCFNDTAPISAI. PRESS ASSOCIATION. FEIGDINO, February 22. At midnight a. disastrous fire broke out in a block of business premises occupied hy (In' New Zealand Clothing Factory, M. iiiuv (grocer). F. Butler (boot sronA, Whitelaw (saddler), H. AVilliamMin (tailor), G. VV. J'Vjwle.s (watchmaker) i'ud \V. E. Grantham (refreshment rooms). These were all wooden buildings, and wore ajl destroyed. The first four shops were owned by Air J. Hugh, Mr Williamson owning the one occupied by himself, and Mr Fowlew the other. A two-storied brick building, owned and occupied by Mr E. Goodbehere and Air IL Aloi tensen. Jeweller, was gutted Mr Woollam’s chemist’s shop, also of brick, was damaged, but the fire was here checked. Tho firo broke out at the hack of Fowles's shop, apparently outside. With the exception of Grantham, Fowlcs and Williamson’s premiscsi, most of the stock was removed from the shops, hut it was greatly damaged in removal. Tho fact that two incipient fires had occurred at the rear of tho block within tho last month, but were suppressed before damage was done, lends colour to tho suspicion that the fire was the work of an incendiary. Air Grantham, and his family lived on the premises, and barely j escaped with their lives. Tho fire is the most disastrous that has ever occurred here, the shops destroyed forming cue of tho principal blocks of business promises.

The insurances are as follows:—E. Ooodbehcre, £SOO in the Commercial Union on Building, nothing on chattels; N. J. Whitolaw, £l5O in the National on the stock (loss above that is about .Cl 00); 11. Mortetiscn, £3OO on the stock in Uui National (lons above is about £:t(Kl)! Marshall Law. £l5O on the stock in the. Commercial Union; Williamson i .slock. £.300 in the Knyat, £250 in tho Norwich Union, mul £l5O in the Phoenix, iinilfling, £250 in the Standard (Mr Will imnson is a considerables loser); Under, £IOO in tho Phoenix j Grantham, £251) in Hie Commercial Union (the loss above (his is.£3oo); Fowlers, £4OO on the building, and £IOO on the stock, in tho New Zealand ollice. Insurances on tho Now Zealand Clothing Factory arc not ascertainable. Hugh’s building. £7OO in the Phoenix (tho loss is £I3OO above that).

It is estimated that the ...total damage exceeds £IO,OOO. The insurance on Woollam’s building ;s £-100 in the Imperial, and on the stock £450 and £SO in the Imperial and Standard o dices respectively.

The Secretary of tho General Post Office received the fallowing telegram yesterday from the postmaster at Feilding:—Disastrous fire in Manchester street at midnight destroyed premises of Now Zealand Clothing Factory, Law (grocor), Payno (boot shop), Whitelaw (saddler), Williamson (tailor), Fowles (watchmaker). Grantham (baker), uoodbehore (commission agent), Mortcnsen (jeweller), and Wool lams (chemist). OUTBREAK AT HAWERA. HAWERA, February 22. A fire broke out at midnight in the centre of -the business portion of the town, but after an hour’s work it was got- under. The tire started in a .urge shed behind several shops facing High and Regent streets. The shops were nearly all old, and it looked at one time as if there would bo groat difficulty in saving them. Fortunately, the new water supply stood tho first demand on it, and the splendid pressure secured was greatly responsible for the fire being got under. The shop of Messrs 11. Hannah and Co. (bootmakers) was slightly damaged by tho fire. Tho shop of Mr Duxfield (saddler) was likewise damaged, as were also the premises of Mr Robinson (plumber), and the West Coast Farmers’ Trading Association Mart. Mr Brunette (jeweller), though escaping fire and water lost considerably, his shop beimr broken open and things carried oil, some to places of safety, others m the pockets of undesirables. Duxfield s Robi.mn's, Fortune’s Gungalls, Davis’s, Paterson’s, Milner ami Tarry s, and Haueah and Co.’s stocks were got out and the loss in those quarters mil not he hcavv. The auction mart stock was . a ji.,,,; damaged by water. The d,t' of insurances and the estimate of loss are not yet available.

m.orUv after ton o’clock last blight , ’ watclinnin noticed that hoSli at the roar of Mr J. Martin's \ : i Manners street were on fire. The «-a. promptly on the scene, and liinc-de « _ (break before it was able