Waverley News.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXI, 2 June 1909, Page 2

Waverley News.

By Our Resident Representative. WAVKKLKY, THIS DAY. ... ..... Blaze at Waverley. 1 Commercial Motel Burnt [to the Ground. Description of Fire. A representative of the Press who was B aying m the Commercial Hotel when the outbreak of lire occurred describes it as follow »\ hen I awakened I folfc u sense of froni- ln f* * !I °fc see my hand in front of me so dense was the thick blackness. Hearing a general movement around me occasioned by my fellow boarders and which proclaimed that there was something unusual astir, I sat up in bed, then searched hopelessly, among my hanging coat pockets for a match. The nauseating smoke became almost overpowering. There was no doubt as to the troubie now. The hotel was on fire and naaly. Almost simultaneously a man’s and a woman’s voice rang out together, My God, it s a fire.” The voice of the man was clear and strong, while that of the woman came from one whom I thought was on the verge of hysterics. But a harsh word, kindly meant, instantly quietened her. Together my neighbor and I opened our doors and the swish of a woman s dress passed between ns to the fire escape. We couldn’t see. My neighbor Johnston Jit his candle : I did tha same his light discovering to me my matches hidden among my papers on the table. Then Johnston's voice rang out. firm and cool. “ Wake up, Boss the place 13 j >n , j“ re ‘ Instantly every door opened and the passage became alive with men and women in their night attire. So quick was the response to the message of Johnston's voice that it seemed he had the power of the magician to command immediate attention at will. The choking smoke grew thicker. There were no doubts now and all set hurriedlv about saving what valuables they could “Is everybody up ?” I heard a voice call, and looking to tha head of the passage I dimly saw the proprietor, Mr Smith, in the misty smoke lit up feebly by caudle light. Poor Smith! That’s all he thought of. “ Are they all u;j ?” he i called. Getting an answer in Ihe affirmative he was satisfied. And now like busy bees the inmates passed and repassed each other in the passage. Salvage operations were going forward by caudle light, but it was evident that little would bo done in this way. Already everybody was coughing and choking, and five minutes only had gone. From down below, kitchenwards, the crackling flames could be hpard fast approaching. ‘A round ring of about three feet in circumference in the passage-way at the bathroom door threw off a lurid glare. The flames war# eatirig their wav through, and the smoke and stench were fearful, Within a minute or so the flames burst through the flo ir and all saving operations were stopped. A few seconds later the whole of the top storey was wreathed • in devastating flames. The place was hopeless, it burnt like matchwood. All efforts to try and save<would be ridiculous now. Indeed this had been eariv recognised by the Brigade who never troubled the Commercial Hotel, but turned all their efforts to the saving of the hotel opposite. There was need for it. Tha heavy wind that _ was blowing carried great sheets of shrieking fire right across the street, and the red hot sparks were spraying the Clarendon like flakes of snow. The heat was terrific. The green wet grass in the side street was scorched until it caught fire, and the »woodeu curbing some 30ft away was burning merrily, while shop windows at a distance of 30 yards cracked like saucers. The Clarendon was now slowly burning. The sparks had found berths in' the cracks and crevices of the front of the house which became dotted with flames, and now looked as if it had been specially lighted with small and variously colored electric globes. The heat was so fierce

that the blistered paint swelled up like gigantic mushrooms and then raced up the facade of the hotel like tortured snakes. The flames lit up the surroundings for miles, and in the stress and heat of it all

the firemen gamely struggled with their lean and obsolete equipment, while 4 willing hands lent every assistance. The Clarendon looked doomed. It was burning rapidly, the top portion especially, while every window had long ago broken with the fierce heat. Then came the most awe inspiring and fantastic sight of all. A party of the Wairoa Rifles had arrived and these, with the aid of many citizens and servants of the hotel, clsmbed on to the roof of the now fast burning building. Some were armed with buckets

of water, some with wet blankets, and others with axes. Right royally ttiey set to work. Up there surrounded by flames they looked like a blood thirsty tribe of savages engaged in some tribal ceremony.

Long arms of flsmes stretched wildly across the street. It was found necessary to chop off the heavy parapet of the Clarendon, and what with the noise of the chopping, the rattle of buckets, the crashing of falling timbers, the inhuman crackling of the flames, as their fierce tongues licked up everything around, it seemed as though a thousand fiends had been lot loose. Truly it was a gruesome yet magnificent spectacle; the front wall of the Commercial fell, the wind gradually dropped, and the flames in the Clarendon lessened in fierceness. The persistent efforts of the firemen, aided by all who were able to bear a hand,' had c mquered. It was only a matter of lime and the fire would be out. But what destruction! Both buildings were wrecked, and all in the short space of an hour.

In the Commercial five women had been quartered, and all suffered con-

siderable loss. Mrs Smith and the three servants escaped with only that which they bad ou, and a Mias Kerr had to be content to leuvs with a light cloak over her nightdress. Miss Kerr, I under-

stand, was to be married within ten weeks’ time, pnd had her wedding trousseau, the work and savings of months, in her room. She lost all, even to her jewellery and money. Her en-

gagement ring, too, which she had left off her finger for the first time was destroyed, but she bore her sufferings nobly and without a murmur. Tho Lux light representative, Mr Sweet, considers that £3O will not cover his losses, Mr Johns-

ton was seen this morning after the fire minus a watch, and wearing a number of now articles of clothing. “ It’s good for trade,” said Johnston lugubiiously. Each of tho othor"boarders was a loser. All the citizens of Waverley behaved nobly. Nothing was too much' for them to do. They took in the helpless and fed and clothed them as if it weie you that wore conferring the favor, Messrs Muir and Butts especially rendered every assistance throwing” opeu their homes to the sufferers. Captain Bisiiop’s Views. Captain Bishop, of the Waverley Fire Brigade, on being nppicached by a County Press representative, suppli-d tuo following account of th- 11 e, Tho outbreak occurred at about 1 a.in., and the Brigade ware on the s at 1 17 a.;ti. Borne delay was cause ! by (v? failure uf the firebd! which cracked after a couple of tolls had been rung, result four members of the Brigade failed to turn out at all, and the Captain, although ha lives close by had to be

called to the Are by a messenger. Whan the Brigade arrived at the Commercial Hotel the fire had already taken complete possession, flames wrapped the walls and wore shooting from the windows and roof. It vena at once decided that it was impossible to subdue such a raging inferno with the means at command, and the Brigade directed, its efforts towards savin." the Chiron lon Hotel. Here the flames had obtained a strong hold on the front of the building, and the ceilings of same of the bed rooms upstairs were alight The small pumping engine of the Brigade whs unable to throw'water to the height of the unstairs windows of tha Clarendon and the firemen had to carry their hose up a ladder and simrly drip water on the fl sines. The Captain organised a bucket brigade to combat the fire inside the '! uilding, and a large psrt of the front parapet whieh was blazing fiercely was cut away and cast down into tha street. The firemen had a fierce fighting time of it for a while, as they labored in close proximity to the flames, unprotected by nniforms or ' helmets. The available water supply was a mere trickle. Under sucb ’Ciramstances fire fighting is both difficult and clangorous, but the strenuous efforts of the Brigade were at length successful and the fire was extinguished, though not before a large amount of damage had been done. The Brigade was greatly assisted in its efforts by a squad of the Wairoa Mounted Bifles, , headed by Lieuts. Emslie and McDonald. The troopers came racing down from their camp in double quick time, many of them riding their horses bare backed. At three o’clock the fire at the Clarendon had been subdued, and the Commercial Hotel had heed reduced to a he :p of blazing ruins. The fire fighters were exhausted by their efforts and thankfully partook of a supper kindly provided by Mrs O’Neill. Captain Bishop thinks that, had the Brigade been possessed of an eugido capable of throwing 150 gallons of water nor minute the contours of the Commercial Hotel would have been saved, and possibly about half of the building itself. Waverley, has tanks with a holdihg capacity of 15 000 gallons and less than one ffiird of that quantity was used on Tuesday morning. It was not water that was lacking, but the means of pumping it at a serviceable rate. The Morning After.

The day dawned upon a scene of desolation. Of the Commercial Hotel nothing remained save three standing chimneys and a litter of debris, then still burning in places The Clarendon Hotel presents a desolate appearance. The greater part of the front parapet has been torn down and in places the iron of of the roof is absent, exposing the charred timbers underneath. The whole front of the building is badly scorched and the weatherboarding of the upper story has been largely burnt away. .Every window in the front of the building was broken. The upstairs bedrooms suffered considerable damage; in three of them the flames penetrated the ceilings and besides these many of the others were damaged by water. Everyone considers that the Brigade did wonderful work in saving the Clarendon, with the insufficient appliances, at their command. Tho Bank of New South Wales, separated from the Clarendon only by a small section, had a lucky escape. Its front is scorched and all the windows are cracked, but otherwise it is unscathed The windows of several shops standing further down the street, beyond the Bank, were broken by the heat of the fire, but Mr Mcrriman, whose shop is next door to the Bank, saved his plate glass by covering it with a cloth shade. On Tuesday forenoon knots of sufferers by the fire, wandered about disconsolately surveying the scene of their misfortunes. Most of them were discernible by reeson of some deficiency in their attire. Several ladies were hatless, but the men were in still worse plight. Socks were at a premium, and the burntout citizen who wore a collar was thereby marked out from his fellows. One unfortunate suggested a new mode by wearing pyjamas under his suit. The Commercial Hotel ! fire is notable for the email amount of property salvaged. Nearly everyone involved was a considerable loser. Happily no loss of human life occurred, but the fire had its fatalities nevertheless. Five canaries, two parrots, and a dog were burnt to death.

Insurances. The Commercial Hotel building was insured for £9OO (about half its value) in the Atlas Coy., the furniture for £7OO in the same Company, and the stock for £3OO iu the State Office. That pari of the building occupied by Mr Thurston was insured for £IOO in the State Office. The Clarendon Hotel building'was insured in the Atlas Coy. for £1025. Th r furniture carried £445, the st ick £-100. and there was a separate policy of £3O covering a piano, all in the Atlas Coy. The damage will amount to about £2-50. The Commercial Hotel was the property of Mts Ellis, of Waverley, from whom Mr Culger, of Inglewood, held a lease, Mr Smith holding a sub lease. The heroes of the fire were Ted Mille •, of the Brigade, and Jim Elmslie and Duncan McDonald, of the VVaxroa Rifles. Mr G. L. Maclachlan, architect, is already on the spot and it is intended to get to work at once. The new building will be an up-to-date wooden structure. £9 Death of Mrs Murdo McLean. Full of busy years and rich in the esteem of many relatives, and the respw.-t of more* friends, the wife of the late Mr Murdo McLean died on Monday at her daughter’* home in Rehiti. She was about 60 years of age and was well known in Waverley, having lived there the greater part of her life, Her husband at one ttime was the proprietor of the Clarendon Hotel. Her body will arrive in Waverley by the late train to-night and will be buried in the Waverley cemetery at 9.30 to-morrow morning.

Wairoa Rifles. On Sunday afternoon the squadron was first exercised by Oapt. Davis in advancing in squadron, in troops, in factions of four, and also in wheeling movements. Then Sergt. -Major Dqvey Dovey toolc charge and a lot of useful work was put in. He first of all ex* plained the correct method as to how the men in each section should hand their horses to their number three. He taught also, another method, “ coupled horses,” by means of which every man was available for the fighting line. After a few attempts the men became fairly proficient. Before the parade was dismissed the men wore photographed on horseback. The fodder served out to the hordes is of first class quality and it is not stinted. I understand that there is to be a concert in the camp on Friday night. It should be an enjoyable function as there is no lack of talent. On Monday the squadron paraded about 9.16 under Gapt. Davis in the centre of the racacourse, and then exercised in squadron drill for a time, after which Sergt.-Major Dovov gave a short explanation on forming advrnca gua’ ls The movement was fist cir'ird nut in the centre <-f the p:i-Moc*r » d th n the t-i.ops wore tak"!! over the uduibs at tilt, back of th e course, w- ore a similar imminent was gone :b.,iugh oa a more extensive scalfeAlter dinner the squadron j.rqmmded < iuc more to the sandhills, un i leaving the horses " couj led,” P u<i: !i ecu do of hours in skirmishing attack wuik, d dug pome “ hurdling ” on the way buck to

caun>. Tue majoiity - / ti. ■ ' ■ ■ f-S proved very good jumpers. Oturi Bairy Company. The Oturi Co-operative Dairy Coy. held a special meeting on Monday night, there being present Messrs (:<■. Johnston (chairman!, B. Bxloy, W. 11. Wall, A. Howie, AV Dost, and S. Huston. The chairman moved that tha question of providing choose cases for the ensuing season be loft to the Works Committee with power to act —seconded by Mr Exloy and carried unanimously. The chairman said that so long as there was any milk coming in tho Oturi Coy. would keep open. Tho tender of Messrs Tmgoy and Coy. for painting tho Coy’s promises was accepted. Tho question of the Coy doing its own painting was raised, but the chairman smiled nt the idea, ms king pointed reference to a certain Coy- now closed down and which had done its own painting. He had seen paint and tins of whitelead and all the rest of it lying about. A knowing smile passed over the faces of those present and tho matter dropped. Replying to a question on Monday night as to how many bpxes were put through by the Oturi Co-operative Dairy Coy. last year Mr A. Howie said that tho number was 2800.

“No.” said Mr Johnston, at the meeting on .Monday night, “I’li be hanged if I’ll come in to a meeting on a sale day, It’s the worst day of tho lot. Somebody’s got a pig to look to after tho sale, another has a flock of sheep and another wants to soil a cow that bo has just bought. There’s a better chance of getting them on a Sunday ’’—and the meeting smiled.

Notes. The Whcmiakura creamery closed down on Monday. Several trucks of metal have arrived at tho Waverley Racecourse station for the metalling of tho AYhenuakura and Wahotnra roads. “ White pine,” said Capfc. Johnston, at the meeting of the Oturi Dairy Coy on Monday night, “ will not fall in price. There is a great demand for it. All tho other timbers, I think, however, will full in price.” Mr J. Smith, licensee of tho Commercial Hotel, wasted no time in useless lamentations but took instant steps on Tuesday morning to have temporary premises erected. The law allows only a 48 hours suspension of the license. While the ruins still smouldered on Tuesday forenoon builders wore at work erecting a shed to serve as a temporary bar. A telegraph linesman, Mr A. Kivell, had real hard luck at tha Waverley fire. Along with another linesman, Mr G. K Kemp, he was berthed in the Commercial Hotel when the outbreak occurred. Undeterred by tho pressing danger the two linesmen organised a little salvage corps of their own and proceeded to lower their property into safety with a rope. When it was all over Mr Kivell remembered that he bad left a good watch in his room and naturally he was a sorely disappointed man. The telegraph linesmen put up a smart performance at Waverley on Tuesday morning. A telegraph post standing near the Commercial Hotel fell victim to the flames and the wires wore badly damaged. By 9 a.m. the -whole of the broken lines save a few belonging to tho local exchange had been restored and were in working order. To-night the Waverley Fire Brigade holfl their concert and dance in the Town Efall, and in view of Tuesiay morning’s happening it is to be hoped that all who can will roll up and aid tho Brigade to build a fund big enough to buy nil necessary appliances.