THE GORE CONFLAGRATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 5

THE GORE CONFLAGRATION

♦' The fire at Gore on Sunday morning was one of the most disastrous that has occurred there (states the Mata-ura Ensign). Nothing liko it has occurred since 1904, when some 22 shops were destroyed in the Arcade Bre. It is thought that tho fire speedily penetrated the walls from Misses Barclay's rooms, where it is supposed the conflagration started, to Mrs Henderson's apartments and tho Soldiers' Club, travelling along to the vacant rooms above M'Gruer, Taylor, and Co.'s promises, where its progress was stopped. As the floors burned through the lower shops naturally caught fire. A number of the firemen were prevented from hearing the fircbell by the strong gale prevailing. Mrs Edgar Watt (whose husband left for camp last Monday), with tho aid of willing hands, saved a portion of her stock, but the stocks of Messrs Forbes, Calder, and Hamilton and Mrs Hadiwich, on the ground floor, and all tho furniture of Mrs Henderson, Misses Barclay, and the Soldiers' Club were totally destroyed. Tho business books of Messrs Forbes, Calder, and Hamilton were saved. Tho block ravaged by fir© was owned by Mr James Holland, who had it insured for approximately £8000 in the National Insurance Company. The various insurances of th.e other sufferens were as follower— G. C. Hamilton, Guardian , £1600; estimated loss over this amount £1000, exclusive* of £300 cash recovered in safe. John Norwich Union £500, Standard £500; estimated loss over insurances, £2850. E. J. Watt, Commercial Union £1800, Norwich Union £400; total valuo of stock, £4000. J. D. Forbes, Norwich Union, £200, Victoria £425; estimated loss over this amount, £100. M'Gruor, Taylor, and Co., New Zealand £1000, Yorkshire £2500; total value of stock, £KOO. J. T. Holland, Norwich Union £450, stock not bu-nt nor removed, but damaged by water. Estimated damage £100; stock estimated value of £700. There- wcro no insurances on the offecti and furniture »f Misses Barclay, who estimate thoir loss about £30; Mrs Hnrliwieh, whose loss was approximately £50: Henderson, whose furniture was valued at £-4flC, *nd who, rn add : tion, lost £40 in i ousii: and the Returned Soldiers' Clu-b, ■ which was recently furnished at a ooet of £200.