ANOTHER FIRE IN BROADWAY.

Westport Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1968, 20 January 1882, Page 3

ANOTHER FIRE IN BROADWAY.

(iNANGAHUA TIMES.) Misfortunes never come singly, and following closely upon the late destructive conflagration in lower Broadway, we have now to record another similar disaster in the upper portion of the town, by which a fine two-storey building belonging to Mr A. Kater, and known as the Exchange Hotel, has been burnt to the ground. As far as can be ascertained the fire was first noticed at about 20 minutes past 5 o'clock on Wednesday morning last. It It w r as then just breaking through the roof of a building adjoining the Exchange Hotel. Mr Kater, or some other person in the hotel, fortunately saw the danger in time, and were enabled to give the alarm, and rouse the inmates. After crying "fire" several times, Mr Kater sent one of his sons to ring the fire-bell, as there was not a soul about the streets. In the meantime the fire spread like magic, aud the slumbering inmates of the hotel had barely time to escape when the hotel caught, and in a very few minutes was wrapped in flames. The fire engine was got out, but there was much delay in running out the hose, and by the time the engine was in working order the fire was wholly beyond control, and all the brigade could do was to play upon the fronts of the houses on the opposite side of the street, and by this means no doubt prevented a much more serious disaster, as the National Bank, the Oddfellows' Hall, and a cottage occupied by Mr C. Mirfin were for some time in peril. In about half-an-hour the Exchange Hotel as well as the adjoining building in which the fire originated were reduced to ashes. Fortunately the two houses were detached, so that the risk of the fire spreading was not so great as it would otherwise have been. Mr Kater saved but very little, everything beyond a small quantity of bedding, somo stock from the ' cellar, and a few articles of furniture, being consumed. The building in which it occurred had been untenanted for some years, but latterly a man named Cameron, of somewhat eccentric habits, had been sleeping in it. The building was the property Mr J. Trennery, and was uninsured. An inquiry will probably be held. The Exchange Hotel, stock, cindfurniture, were insured for £925 in the New Zealand Office, but the latter had, we believe, reinsured for £3OO in the Victoria. Mr Kater had only recently purchased the Exchange Hotel for £BSO, and since that time had improved it considerably, besides adding largely to the stock and furniture, so that his loss over and above the insurance must be considerable.