FIRE AT GLENORE. HOTEL STORE, AND POST OFFICE DESTROYED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2861, 13 January 1909, Page 41

FIRE AT GLENORE. HOTEL STORE, AND POST OFFICE DESTROYED.

I At an early hour on Monday morning the 1 Victoria Hotel, at Glenore, between Milton I and Waitahuna, was totally destroyed by fir-e. The building, which was an old landmark erected in 1862, was at the time of its destruction in the occupancy of Mrs Stenhouse, as a public-house, ( store, post office, and telephone office, and the Mount I Stuart Road Board used portion of the j premises as offices in which to conduct its 1 business. From particulars available it appears that the fire originated in a portion of the building which was used as a parlour, and where a fire had been lit on the previous evening. The fir© was discovered about 3.30 a.m. by Miss Shanks (a visitor), who heard a crackling noise, but when she mentioned her fears that something was wrong to a housemaid (Miss Gibson) they concluded that a motor car had disturbed their slumbers. The other occupants of the building at ths time were Mrs Stenhouse (the licensee) and Mr Jas. Adam, the latter sleeping in a detached building. As the crackling sound continued Miss Gib=on looked out of her window and saw flames I issuing from the parlour, and she quickly ; gave the alarm. The inmates had barely ■ time to escape in such clothing as they could hurriedly put on. I A few articles of furniture and some j bedding were hastily thrown out from the , burning building, and Miss Gibson, at 1 some personal risk, re-entered the building and secured a cashbox and some documents, but beyond the articles mentioned nothing was salvaged, and the fire burning fiercely, speedily reduced everything consumable to ashes. The property, which was owned by Mrs> Stenhouse, was, it is stated, insured for £250, and the stock for £350, but other insurances, if any, are not known. The insurances are understood to be held by Mr Findlay (a late proprietor), and Mrs Stenhouse is understood to be a heavy loser. Quite recently Mrs Stsnhouse lost her husband, an invalid, by death, tha death of hgr mother following, this 1 again being tollowed by the carrying of ! no-license in the district. Mr Stenhoute, , the late licensee, was well-known In Dim- • edin and Anderson's Bay district as the i proprietor of 'buses which ran between the places named. ! All the mail and postal matter in the building at the time of the fire w;>s totally ■ destroyed, and the Mount Stuart Road Board'lost many old survey records, maps. etc., which it is estimated it will take about £50 to replace. Fortunately for the Road Board the secretary (Mr John ' Adam) had the books, etc., of the board I pt his house at the time, and these have been preserved. ' The building was originally built wlv>n mining was in full swing at Glenore, Hie first owners being Messrs Perc-all and the I late G. Coombe, the latter being the father ' of Messrs H. G. and H. J. Coombe, now of the Commercial Hotel. Milton. The ground on which the hotel and buildings stood is practically, except the roadway, the only piece of unworked mining ground in the* Glenore difetrict, and old mirK-r, affirm that the site is one near wh'ch some of the richest gold on the field was found. The Milton postmaster (Mr M'Guire). on learning of the destruction of the po-t office, proceeded yesterday morning to the I locality and promptly made arrangements for the carrying on of postal, as well as I telephone, business. The mail was distnj buted on Saturday, and consequently very few letters have been destroyed, and it is stated that on!y a small sum of money in the office was lost. Considerable sympathy j is expressed for Mrs Stenhou f in Milton, ! Glenore, Waituhuna ami *-urrov.n<lmg • .- | [tuct* I