DAMAGE OVER £l0,000

Southland Times, Issue 22732, 7 November 1935, Page 4

DAMAGE OVER £l0,000

WESTPORT’S MOST SERIOUS FIRE. (Per United Press Association.) Westport, November G. The most serious fire in the history of Westport occurred early this morning when Hansen and Co. s twostoreyed hall of commerce warehouse, Smith’s drapery shop, Fox s boot repair shop, the Waverley private hotel, the Friendly Societies’ dispensary dance hall and lodge room, also a cottage and business premises containing two shops were totally destroyed The outbreak originated at the rear of the Hall of Commerce and had a good hold when the alarm was given. The volunteer brigade had every available inch of hose in use, but could not stem the raging inferno before the buildings mentioned were demolished. A powerful motor pump was brought into use, but a petrol blockage put it out of action for a time. Fortunately there was little wind, otherwise the adjoining buildings, including the Town Hall and Theatre Royal and wooden structures across the street, would have been more seriously endangered. As it was plateglass windows opposite were cracked and building frontages and roofs blistered. A dance had only just concluded in the Friendly Societies Hall. Nothing was saved. The damage is estimated at over £lO,OOO and the insurances are at present not avanable.