FIRE AT NAPIER.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12806, 30 May 1910, Page 3

FIRE AT NAPIER.

SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. - [United Press Association.] Napier, May 29. Shortly after nine, o'clock on Saturday night a firo broke oiit in Mr F. Slade's private hotel on the Marine Parade. It quickly spread to the adjoining buildings, and did a large amount of damage before it was subdued. The private hotel, which was a woodan two-story building, with Its contents, was completely destroyed. A cottage of seven rooms, also owned by Mr Slade aud used in connection with his boarding establishment, was badly gutted. The majority of the boarders lost everything except what they were wearing. Mr George Ry-. mer's residence, and a cottage occupied by Mr Edward Ashton and owned by Mr It.' L. Williams, next caught fire, and were both completely destroyed. Mr Slade's stabbs and those of Mr John Skews, cab proprietor, were also destroyed. The horses and vehicles, however, wore saved. The flames reached the scullery of Skews' house, but were then checked by the Fire Brigade. Other buildings were considerably scorched. There was a strong westerly wind blowing when the fire was at its height. A man named James O'Connor, aged about 55, who slept in. a portion of the loft of Slade's stables, was badly hurt by jumping to tho. ground. Ho lost his clothing, and about £20 in cash.

The' insurances are as follows : — Slade's private hotel, £1300 on the building, in the Liverpool and London and Globe; on the furniture, £640 in tho Australian Alliance • Mr Slade's cottage, £200 on the building in the New Zealand, and £100 in the Royal Exchange, and on the furniture, £100 in the Australian Alliance ; Slade* t stables, £100 in the Royal Exchange. Skews' dwelling, £200 ; on stables. £300, and on horse-feed, £10, all irthe Phoenix. On Rymer's building, £700, and on furniture-, £200 in the National ; Ashton's furniture, £200 in the Queensland; Williams' building, £300 in Alliance. Two of Mr Slade's i boarders, namely, Mr S. T. Jen&inson, and Miss R. A. Midgley, had their persona] effects insured for £50 each j with the Norwich TJiu/m. Mr Rymer's residence was built about four 1 years ago at a cost of £1100. i