Fire at Otautau

Western Star, 22 December 1911, Page 2

Fire at Otautau

SERIOUS DAMAGE On Tuesday evening, about ten o dock, a fire, which assumed large dimensions, brosc out in me premises occupied Airs Mciveowu, fruiterer in Main street. Utautau. The origin of the nfa/.e was the capsizing of u small Kerosene iamp in tho xitcheiiuhe- curtains and wallpapers ignited immediately, and the flames spread so rapidly that any -at temp V to e.x-

tinguish them would have been futile. Fortunately, the weather was calm, and Robertson Ur os. were Urns enabled to remove the whole oi the slock from their premises (widen adjoined -urs Meb-eowns) to tho [Town x. on the opposite side of tnu sleet

before the lire had obtained a strong hold. 'The flames slowly spread to the premises occupied by Miss Rrendcville, dressmaker, and subsequently to promises owned by Air A, Officer, farmer Drummond, which were not tenanted, but previously occupied by Mr dames Gordon, butcher. Further damage

was prevented by the) wall of Messrs Thomson and Beattie's brick building. Tho whole! of thy buildings were completely demolished, and the Railway Hotel, facing the next street, was only saved by pulling down a building at the rear of Messrs Robertson Br o s.’ premises;., thus pre-vert-iuir the flumes from spreading. As far ns can be ascertainxi, Mrt M.cKeown’a stock and furnitu.9 •, es insured in thy N.Z. Insurrjco OlDr*/or tu 0 hundred pounds, wmlc Mo is Robertson Bros, had an insurance id ToOo in tho Guardian i ffice, and estimate their loss at cno thru , and pounds.. 0