DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 3511, 30 December 1885, Page 6

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

[From the Timabt; Hebaid, Dbo. 30.] During the last few days reports of fi'es of a more or less destructive nature have reached u» from various parts of the colony, and it would appear that the end has not yet come. This morning wo publish another long list. Though rain was recently reported to have fallen m various parts of the colony, it does not seem to have been productive of any lasting benefit, and both m town and country there appears to be a great want of moisture. The Cave Hotel, sta les and blacksmith's shop adjoining, were totally destroyed by fire about 1.30 yesterday morning. The fire is supposed to have originated— how is a mystery— in the room occupied by a man named P. Burns, a shearer, who had a narrow escape of being burnt m his bed. To save his life, be had to jump out of the bed-room window, and m doing so he sustained such serious injuries to his hip and the right side of his body that Constable Stanley, of Pleasant Point, deemed it advisable to bring him into theTimaru Hospital last evening. Burns lost everytbi g, as also did Mr G. F. Finch, the licensee of the hotel The buildings belonged to Mr Lachlun McCormick. who, we understand, had them insured m the South British office for £SOO. With the exception of Burns, the occupants of the hotel had time to make good their escape from tho burning building. The loss to Mr Finch is a very heavy one, and much sympathy is expressed for him m this distriot. We may mention that several stack tires have taken place lately m South Canterbury, but as we are not m possession of pirticulars we are unable to Btate whether the stacks were insured or not. There is this to be said, that so far there has not been even a whisper of incendiarism m connection with grass and stack fire- m South Canterbury, and it may, therefore, be fairly taken for granted that they have been caused by accident.