BIG FIRE AT HASTINGS.

Patea Mail, Volume XXIX, 15 January 1908, Page 3

BIG FIRE AT HASTINGS.

SUSPECTED ARSON. Hustings was the scone of another big conflagration early on Tuesday morning. Just 'before midnight the flrebell rang out an alarm, and it was found that a small wooden building in Station street, kept aa a restaurant by Mr M. Johnson, and known as the “Silver Grid.” was in flames. The fire spread with such . rapidity that even before the arrival of J the brigade a minute or two after midnight the building on either side of the restaurant had caught. Owing to some ' slight mishap, it was some ton minutes before water could be got, and during that time the tire had spread to Hartshorn and Wbllwood’s on one side and T. M. Robinson’s, fruiterer on the other side, A further stoppage of the water pressure for five minutes enabled the fire to gain a further hold, but u few minutes afterwards the brigade had the fire well it. hand, though it continued to burn for nearly two hours after. Most of the buildings were old, which probably accounted for the rapidity with which the flames spread. The businesses burnt wore:—Hartshorn and Wellwood, land agents; George Ebbet, solicitor; Johnston, restaurant; Edgar Lewes, jeweller; H. Christian, shop; S. Scaeffer, tobacconist; Cassin. land agent; E. Fitzpatrick, ' '**■ billiard saloon ; Wooster, baker ; Eraser and Fagan, tea importers; Reynolds and Co., bicycle agents; T. M. Robinson, fruiterer. Hyde and Co.’s bi hard saloon at the rear of Robertson’s, and opening out into the Grand Hotel right-of-way, was badly damaged by fire and water, but the two billiard tables seem to have escaped injury. In connection with the tiro Martin Johnston, proprietor of the Silver Grid, was arrested this evening on a charge of alleged arson.