DISASTROUS FIRE

Waipukurau Press, Volume XIV, Issue 46, 23 April 1930, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE

Six Buildings Destroyed

COLLINGWOOD TOWNSHIP SWEPT DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO £12,000.. (Per Press Association) Nelson, This Day. A. most disastrous fire occurred at Collingwood at about IO o’clock this morning, completely destroying six buildings and gutting two others. Commencing in the rear of Stallard’s boarding-house the flames ate up the wooden structure with amazing rapidity. A hall, owned by the Presbyterian Church, and the Manse, occupied by the Rev. Ross and family, soon caught. By this time a steadybreeze was fanning the flames across the street, licking the buildings on the opposite side. Miss saloon soon caught and the Post Office was threatened, but, thanks to a good pressure of water, and excellent work by the fire brigade this was saved. The fire was got under control in the billiard room. By this time the wind had veered to a southerly direction, and Brame’s Collingwood Hotel and Doyle’s butcher’s shop fell easy victims. The heat and flames from these buildings swept across to William Street, destroying Wigzell’s store, the Institute Buildings, next door and Taylor’s residence next to the Institute then caught alight, but by this time the brigade had worked through to the back of the hotel site, and with wonderful work, soon had the fire under control, saving a portion of the building, though water and smoke did much damage. The occupants of the boardinghouse, butcher’s shop and hotel lost practically everything. The Institute buildings housed the library; nothing being saved. The loss is estimated in the vicinity of £12,000, which is a big blow to the mining township.