FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 34

FIRES.

AUCKLAND, April 28. A six-roomed house in Gore road, Devonport, owned by Mr J. W. Carson and occupied by Mr R. 31. Rac, was destroyed by fire early this morning. The building was insured for £4OO in the London and Lancashire office, and the- furniture for £l5O in the New Zealand office. WESTPORT, April 20. A fire at Cape Fouhvind between 5 and 6 o’clock this morning destroyed a hotel, owned by Mr Costello and occupied by Mrs Mongigatti, and a tea room, store, and billiard room owned and occupied by Mrs llarnety. Both were practically new buildings, being erected only three or four years ago.’ It was with difficulty that the extension of the fire was prevented. A hall adjoining Mrs Harnety’s store caught, but the fire was extinguished before much damage was done; and Miss Chinan's store, which is also the post office, adjoining the hotel, also had a narrow escape. Practically nothing was saved The fire appears to have begun in Mrs Harnety’s, a pile of coal being still alight in dangerous proximity to the hail. The Westport Fire Brigade went out by train this afternoon. It took a quantity of water with it, owing to the local supply having run out, and it has now got the fire completely under control. The billiard tables in Mrs llarnety’s and in the hotel were both lost. 'Die insurances arc not vet ascertained. TIMARU, April 20. Another case of incendiarism was reported last night. A fire started in the interior )f a range of simps lately vacated by Messrs Ballantyne and Co. Access was gained by the back window, and a match was put to a pile of cleaning-out rubbish under the stairs. The brigade was soon on the spot, but £l5O worth of damage was done. INVERCARGILL, April 28. A flaxmill at Mokoreta, owned by Mr Adam Hall, was destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning. The origin of the

fire is unknown. TJie estimated loss is £4OO, which includes a quantity of fibre. A wooden building situated at the corner of Gordon road and Factory road, Mosgiel, was discovered on fire at 12.30 on Monday morning. The portion occupied by Mr Thomas Gourley as a fruit shop and tea rooms was completely gutted, and the other part, occupied by Air G. Davis, as a boot shop, was slightly damaged. The building, which was owned by Messrs Smeaton Bros., was insured in the Royal Exchange office for £l5O, and the stock and fittings belonging to Air Gourley were insured in the Queensland office for £125. It is not known whether Mr Davis had any insurance or- not. His stock was only slightly damaged by water.