SENSATION AT WANGANUI

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 72, 22 February 1918, Page 3

SENSATION AT WANGANUI

' FOSTER’S HOTEL DESTROYED. | WAREHOUSE GUTTED. Per 1 ress Association. Wanganui, February 21.

At an early hour this morning Foster’s Hotel, a large three-storied building in Taupo Quay, was totally destroyed by fire. The outbreak evidently started in an upstairs bed-

room, and spread with great rapidity. When the town brigade arrived the building was a mass of flame. Assistance also came from the suburban brigades, and for over an hour a combined effort bad to be made to prevent the fire spreading into the adjoining area. At one stage a boarding house on the opposite side of

Taupo Quay caught alight. Tbe fire spread into Ross and Glendining’s warehouse, adjoining Foster’s Hotel, and was not checked before considerable damage was done. Foster’s Hotel was crowded with visitors to the races, who lost their effects.

Details of insurance are not obtainable, but it is understood there is £BOOO on the hotel building, and £3500 on the furniture, mostly in the London and Lancashire Office.

Jewellery belonging to guests, valued at £3OOO, was in the hotel safe. Its fate is unknown. Boss and Glendining’s premises were mainly damaged by water. The insurance on the building is £2BOO in the South British Office.

Further investigation proves that the whole of Boss and Glendining’s second storey was completely gutted by to-nigbt’s fire, while the stock downstairs was soaked with water. Foster’s Hotel was one of Wanganui’s land marks. Known as the York Hotel, it was established in 1857, the name later being changed to the Steam Packet, and eventually to Foster’s, the Foster family Raving owned it for 36 years.