EXTENSIVE FIRE AT NAPIER.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 34

EXTENSIVE FIRE AT NAPIER.

NAPIER, May 29. Shortly after 9 o'clock on Saturday night a fire broke out in Mr T. Slade's private hotel on the Marine parade. It quickly spread to adjoining buildings and did a large amount of damage before it was subdued. The private hotel, a wooden two-storey building, containing 32 rooms, was, with its contents, completely destroyed. A cottage of seven rooms, also owned by Mr Slade, and used in with his boarding establishment, was badly, gutted. The majority of the boarders lost everything, except what they were wearing. Mr George Rymer's residence, and a cottage, occupied by Edward Ashton, and owned by Mr R. L. Williams, caught fire, and were both completely destroyed. Mr Slade's stables, and those of Mr John Skews, cab proprietor, were also destroyed.. The horses and vehicles, however, were saved. The flames reached the scullery of Skews's house, but were then checked by the brigade. Other buildings were considerably scorched. There was a strong westerly wind when the fire was at its height.

A man named James O'Connor, aged about 55, who was sleeping in a portion of the loft of Mr Slade's. stables, was badly hurt by jumping to the ground. He lost hiis clothing and about £2O in cash. The insurances are as follow :—Slade's private hotel—£l3oo on the building in the Liverpool and London and Globe; furniture, £640 in the Australian Alliance. Mr Slade's cottage—£2oo on the building in the New Zealand, and £IOO in the Eoyal Exchange; furniture, £IOO in the Australian Alliance. Mr Skew's dwelling—£2oo; stables, £3O; horse feed, £10; all in the Phoenix. Rymer's buildings—£7oo, and furniture £2OO, in the National. Ashton's furniture—£2oo in the Queensland.. Williams's building—£3oo in the Alliance. Two of Mr Slade's boarders—namely, Mr S. T. Jenkinson and Miss R. A. Midgley, had their personal effects insured for £SO each, with the Norwich Union. Mr Rymer's residence was built about four years ago at a cost of £llOO.