FIRES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20311, 20 January 1928, Page 8

FIRES.

TWO-STOREYED HOTEL DESTROYED. (Per United Press Association.) DARGAVILLE, January 19. At 4 o’clock this morning the Tokatoka Hotel, a two-storeyed building and one of the oldest landmarks in the district, was, with the whole of the contents, totally destroyed by fire. It was occupied by Mr H. Morton, who with h.o family‘just had time to escape in their sleeping attire. The only thing saved was the cash box. The building was owned by an Auckland brewery firm, and the amount of the insurance is not knoivn, RAILWAY HOUSE DESTROYED. (Per United Press Association.) OHAKUNE. January 19. The railway house at Rangataua was completely gutted this morning. Mr Mills and family escaped in their night attire, saving nothing. FIVE-ROOMED HOUSE DESTROYED. (Per Un-ted Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 19.^ A five-roomed house, owned by Mr S. Bercich, at Penrose, was destroyed last night through a gorse fire. LOCAL CALLS. A rough-cast bungalow at 6 Rawhiti street, Sunshine, was damaged by fire shortly after 10 o’clock yesterday morning. The outbreak was the result of a lighted match being left burning, ana, before, it could be suppressed, damage to the extent of £SO had been done to the house, and the contents had suffered to the extent of £2O.- The building, which is owned by Mr George Meggitt, was covered by a policy for £BOO in the National office, but there was no insurance on the furniture. The City and South Dunedin Fire Brigades received a call at 3.31 p.m. yesterday to Messrs Shiel and Co.’s brickworks in Forbury road, where the electric wires of a large excavator had fused. Only the switchboard was destroyed. There was no insurance of the excavator, which is valued at £ISOO.