FIRE AT PAEKAKARIKI

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6758, 4 March 1909, Page 6

FIRE AT PAEKAKARIKI

THE HOTEL DESTROYED. A CLEAN SWEEP. The Paokakariki Hotel was totally destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. The hotel consisted of thirty-five rooms, .and was built upwards of thirty years ago. It was formerly a stoppingplace for tho coaches that ran between this city and Wanganui prior to tho ■building of the Mauawatu railway,. Mr Hilton lias held tho leaso of tho hotel for about a year, and Mr GAnyon, a resident of Fiji, is tho owner. Tho building was insured in tho Liverpool ana ’ London and Globe office for £3IOO, the, stock for £2OO, and the furniture for £2OO.

Tho fire was discovered at 5 o'clock yesterday morning by the hotel laundress, and there is nothing to allow how it occurred. A housemaid, on being told of the outbreak, immediately roused all tho boarders, there, being thirty-one staying in the house. Tho progress of the fire -was so rapid that, the inmates of tho house were forced to loavo at once, and this they did attired only in their sleeping garments. It was impossible, to save ally goods, as the house was reduced to ashes in about fifteen , minutes. Mr Hilton lost much valuable property, including £BO worth of jewellery, and among the effects of the boarders were many articles of jewellery of lessor value. It was feared during the short time the fire raged, that the post office and telephone bureau, which are about one hundred yards distant from tho site of the ruined "hotel, might bu burnt, but happily the building escaped injury. There was considerable difficulty in housing and clothing the escapees from the burnt building, tho residents of Paekakariki rising to the occasion handsomely andl offering every hospitality. Among the heaviest losers by the fire, apart from the proprietor, whoso loss may bo roughly assessed at £OOO, was a married couple, who, with several children, only arrived the day before from tho North, deciding to break their journey South by spending a few days at this favourite seaside resort. The husband lost £4O in cash and a gold watch and chain. The licensee, Mr Hilton, is well known in Wellington, especially in sporting circles. He paid a visit to town to-day to arrange for fresh stock for temnorary premises, which must bo opened,* according to the Licensing Act, within forty-eight hours of the destruction of the former buildings. A shed, which is practically all that escaped the fire, has been moved forward close to tho railway gates. Mr Hilton is a dog fancier, homely (but not handsome) pngs being hia particular weakness. Of these, including puppies, there were a dozen on the premises, including tho champion -winner Marlow Perfection, who escaped. Two ■ others were destroyed —one fawn slut, tho property ,of Mr J. White, of Palmerston (representative of Speight and 00., Dunedin). She was an imported bitch, and’ was being iired from one of Mr Hilton’s well-bred docs. Mr F, G. Roberts, of tho A.M.P Society, was almost tho last person awakened. After assisting some women to safety ho found it impossible to return for his belongings, and his night attire was the only wearing apparel ho saved. _ The people of Paekakariki were particularly kind to the sufferers. Mr K. Grcig, president of tho Flaxmillors' Association, was prominent in this respect, taking five men and three ladies to his seaside resort, and fitting them out in a manner which made it pon-' sible for them to return to their homes. Other lady boarders were taken, charge of by different residents, who did all in their power to assist them. There was one amusing incident. A' young housemaid was seen" walking about in all the glory of her nightclothing, carefully guarding a hatbox. It transpired that the only thing she had saved from the flames was a brand new summer hat.