FIRES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15827, 28 July 1913, Page 2

FIRES

(Pin United Press Agsocution.) GISBORNE, July 27. The hotel at Tekaraka, 30 miles from Gisborne, which had a narrow escape from destruction in the fire which destroyed three adjoining shops on Friday afternoon, was completely demolished by fire at 1 o'clock this morning. The hotel was a large wooden structure containing 42 bedrooms and 12 other rooms, all of which were occupied by guests at the time of the outbreak. One of the guests heard a man in are adjoining room get up and go out about 12.30, and about half an hour later he heard a crackling noise coming from the room. He discovered both beds ablaze and the flames creeping up the walls. His attempt to check the outbreak was unsuccessful, so he epeedily wakened the household and all escaped in the nick of time, as before 2 o'clock the place was reduced to a pile of a6hes. Nothing but the licensee's safe was saved, find many guests had narrow escapes, losing, without exception, their effects. The street wasfilled by women and children in various states of deshabile. All the shops on the opposite side of the road were badly charred, and were'ablaze many times, but were saved by a bucket brigade. The hotel was owned by Mr D °J. Barry, of Gisborne, who has a policy in the Royal Exchange for £2000. The 'licensee is Mr CI. Williams, and his furniture and stock weie insured in the Royal office for £1100. ■ the only thing saved from the Bank of New Zealand branch in Friday's fire was the safe containing the books and records. This was stored in the hotel, and was completely burnt in this morning's fire.

Shortly aft" ? °' clock on Fnda . v even ' in" the "Fire Brigade received a call to a cottage in Harbour terrace owned by Mr Sproule and occupied by Mr W. Kilpatrick. Some curtains had caught fire, but the brigade arrived in tome to prevent anv serious damage being done. Yesterday at noon the City Fire Brigade turned out in response to a call received from an alarm in Pitt.street On proceeding to the scene it wa* found that the call had been sent automatically owing to a defect in the system.