BLAZE AT WESTPORT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20259, 7 November 1935, Page 14

BLAZE AT WESTPORT

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £IO,OOO By Telegraph—Press Association WESTPORT, November 6. The most disastrous fire in the history of Westport occurred early this morning, when Messrs Hansen and Co’s two-storeyed Hall of Commerce, Mr Smith’s drapery shop, Mr 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 started 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 fire before the buildings mentioned were demolished. A powerful Dennis 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, Theatre Royal, and wooden structures across the street would have been more seriously endangered. As it was, plate glass windows opposite were cracked, and the building frontages and roofs blistered. A dance had only just concludtd in the Friendly Societies’ Hall. Nothing was saved. The damage is estimated at more than £IO,OOO. The insurances ascertained so far on the buildings and stock destroyed by fire to-day are —Friendly Society, £I6OO building, £7OO stock; Hansen, £2OOO building and £BSO stock and fittings; Smith, £SOO stock; E. and H. Morgan, £4OO (two shops) and £l5O dwelling; Penny £BOO on building and furniture.