FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3015, 27 December 1911, Page 65

FIRES.

HAMILTON, December 19. A fire occurred last right In the building in the main streeit occupied by Mr Shepherd (hardware deaier) and 'owned by Mr , E. J. Mears. The contents were destroyed, also a large quantity of furniture belonging to Mr Georgetti and Mr Garnham (manager of the Bank of New South Wales), which was stored in the building. Mr Garnham's furniture, valued at £6OO, was insured for £4OO hi the National. Mr Georgette's waa insured for £740 in the Union office. The building was insured in the South British, but the amount is not known. Mr Shepherd's stock was insured for £4OO in the Northern office. NAPIER, December 24.

At 2 o'clock this morning a four-roomecl cottage at Port Aburiri, occupied l by Mr George Dixon, was completely destroyed by fire. Mr and Mrs Dixon are away for a holiday at Auckland, but the body of a, boarder named Lars Anderson, better known as Charles Anderson, was found in the ruins. Anderson was a fisherman, 41 years of age, andl was a widower. He had nO relatives in New Zealand. - ■'.;-'' .■

The Southland Times reports that about 10 p.m. on the 19th inet. a fire, caused by the bursting of a small kerosene lamp, broke out in the premises occupied by Mrp M'Keown, fruiterer, Main street, Otautau. The curtains and l wallpaper quickly ignitecf, and before Mrs M'Keown could return witb help the room was in a blaze, there beinff mo possibility of extinguishing it. > The evening- was very calm, and the fire spread but slowly, enabling Robertson Bros., whoa© premises adjoin Mrs M'Keown's, to remove all their stock to "the Town Hall on the opposite side of the road. The fire next spread to the premises occupied by Mis» Prenderville, dressmaker, and then to an empty shop lately occupied by James Gordon. The sre was then stopped' by the wall of Messrs Thomson and Beattie'e brick building. Another building situated at the rear of Jlobertson Bros.' was pulled down, thus preventing the fire from reaching the Railway Hotel, which faces the next street. The value of Mrs ' M'Keown's stock was estimated at £2OO, and Robertson Bros.' stock at £SOO. Both were partly covered by insurance, the amount of which is not ascertainable.