FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3339, 13 March 1918, Page 43

FIRES.

A SERIOUS OUTBREAK.

A disastrous fire occurred on Saturday night in the west end!-of Kaikouru, resulting in the complete destruction of a block containing the Adelphi Hotel and the business promises of Mr Mcssent, barber and tobacconist and billiard saloon-keeper; Mrß Stirling, confectioner and luncheon rooms proprietress; Mr Whitehead, jeweller, W. Strange and Co., drar)ers. ' The correspondent of the Ghristchurcb. Press states that the progress of the fire in a northerly direction was arrested bv a brick wall between Strange's _ and Flower's \ .N store, and in the other direction by a yard separating the hotel from the stables and the Star office. The fire originated at the< back of Messent's premises, and was first noticed by Miss Clara Dyer, an employee ~'-. of the hotel, who was awakened by the , sounds of falling glass. Acting with great. * presence of mind, she awoke the inmates, who all escaped safely, though very few of ' their personal belongings were saved. Mr.. Shields, the proprietor of the hotel, managed' to secure the contents of the safe. The other premises were unoccupied at night, and nothing was 6aved,_ Mr Messent, Mr Whitehead, and Mrs Stirling being heavy losers. The two first-named were uninsured, and Mrs Stirling had £IOO on tho " stock with the North British and N Mercantile. Mr Whitehead estimates his loss at £IOOO. The furniture and personal effects of Mr Shields were insured for £l5O with the Guardian office. The insurances on , the hotel have not been ascertained, but Strange's stock was insured for £IOOO in the London, Liverpool, and Globe office, , and £ISOO in the Yorkshire office, besides / various smaller sunns. The fronts of the buildings across the street .were scorched, windows broken, including a plate glass in the Farmers' Co-operative Association's new building. Fortunatelv it was a still n'ififht, or the fire could not have_ been checked, there being a - lack of appliances. The inmates of tho hotel, including the boarders, the proprietor's and the staff, numbered- 15. •'. ' HASTINGS, March, 6. Te Aute Maori College, including the teachers' residence, was burner] down about ' 5 o'clock this morning. The schoolroom was the only building saved. The fkp' . ' started in the kitchen. !*" ..-.. ; - The college buildings being old, the fire spread rapidly. All the/students got out safely, Hut lost a considerable portion, of their effect*. ( The. boys of the school were heavy losers. The sum of £SOOO had recently been spent in effecting improvements and additions about the building. The insurances were £5400 in the National Insurance office and £IOOO in the Royal Exchange office.. The pupils have been sent to their homes for tho present, but temporary arrangements for accommodation will bo made in a fortnight. To Auto College was .founded in 1872 by the Ven. Archdeacon Williams, and is administered by a board of trustees. It occupied a splendid' situation on the ores* of a small hill, and was an extremely picturesque old building. The college owns about 700 acres of land round Te Aute. This was granted to the school partly by Sir George Grey's Government and partly by tho Maoris" theniselves.

The Royal Mail Hotel at Okarito was destroyed by fire on Wednesday, 27th ult. The licensee (Mrs Friend) and her daughter had a narrow escape, getting out only in their night attire. Tho whole building and contents were destroyed. Tho origin of the fire is unknown.