WANGANUI RACES. ROYAL HOTEL AT ONEHUNGA BURNT DOWN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3565, 14 October 1880, Page 2

WANGANUI RACES.

ROYAL HOTEL AT ONEHUNGA BURNT DOWN.

We copy from the Wanganui Yeoman's sporting column, by " Spectator," the following items : — "AtMarton on Saturday I was shown a fine Ravensworth gelding from a Glaucus marc, which the owner intends running for maiden honors (at the Wanganui Spring Meeting ou the 29th instant), under a now notorious name — ' Steve Hart' (one of the Kelly gang). — Mr. Marr has a Sator filly up, but iooking very rough. I was too late to see the two-year-old Sator, from the sister of Bnlly-for-you, but I am told he is a good one. He has a very uncommon name. Only fancy asking a bookmaker to book 100 to 10 to you about Rumplestilskin !"

At about a quarter past 12 o'clock on Saturday afternoon a destructive fire broke out at Onehunga which resulted in the Utal destruction of the Royal Rotel, a large two-storey building facing the beach, aud in considerable damage to a number of other houses. The fire was first discovered when it had obtained a firm hold of the roof of the builiing by Mr. Collins, storekeeper, who resides in the vicinity, and by George McQitay, a young man employed at Mr. Roe's saw-mill, and they at once gave the alarm to the inmates of the hotel. Mr. William Weston, the landlord of the hotel, was absent in Auckland when the fire broke out, and knew nothing of the occurrence until some hours afterwards. The onl> inmates of the hotel were Mr. John Weston (brother of the landlord), Mrs. Weston, and a Mrs. Hunt. A crowd speedily collected, but so quickly did the flames spread that it was at once manifest that nothing could save the building. The mill hands and neighbours turned to, to assist in saving as much as possible of the furniture and effects of the lower story of the building, for nothing could be done in this direction so far as the upper storey of the hotel was concerned. In 'less than half-an-hour after the first, discovery of the fire, the Royal Hotel was a heap of ashes. The building was the property of Mrs. George. It was a large twostorey building, containing a bnr and eight rooms downstairs and fifteen bsdrooois on the upu'T floor. It has been built for some time, and is stated to have cost £1,500 to erect it. The owner had it insured for £100 in the Norwich Union Office. It had been insured in the New Zealand Office for £500, but the policy expired in June last, and was not renewed. Mr. Weston, the landlord, is a very heavy sufferer. He had cily recently entered into possession of the hotel, and was uninsured, although arrangements were in progress for effecting an insurance on the stojk a.nd furniture. The whole o£ the furniture, including five beds, bedding, and furniture of five rooms upstairs, was destroyed, and a considerable portion of that in the lower rooms. Hiss loss includes £55 in money, w'u'ch was in a drawer in his own bed room. This consisted of £15 in bank notes, and the remainder in gold and silver. Mrs. Weston loses her personal effects and jewellery, including a brooch and pair of earrings, value about £10. Mr. John Weston saved none of his properly beyond the clothes he stood in. Captain Rich was not insured, but Mr. Lowbridge's losses and those of Mrs. Morriso'i arc covered by insurance in the New Zealand office. A. curious incident of the whole affair was the fact that Mrs. Amery's house, which is situated fully a mile from where the Royal Hotel stood, was set on fire by sparks carried that, distance from the burning building.

The origin of the fire is not difficult to guess. The situation will explain this. The hotel stood at the corner of Princes-street and the Beach Roa'l, fronting George-street. It, m fact, fronted the three streets. On the opposite angle of the Beach Road, and separated from it only by tho diagonal width of the street, 13 situated Mr. Rowe's saw-mill. Work was going on there as usual on Saturday, and t-vo portable engines were at work. The fuel used is coal, mixed with shavings, sawdust, and other refuse. As there are not proper spark-catchers to the iron chimneys of those engines, there is little doubt but as there was a strong southerly wind blowing, the sparks were carried from these chimneys which set fire to the hotel. Indeed it is not the first occasion on which such a thing occurred. xVbout twelve months ago, it caught fire apparently from the same cause, but it was extinguished before much damage was done. The damages were then repaired at the expense of the New Zealand Insurance Company, who had a risk over the buildiug.