FIRE AT TE AWAMUTU.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1356, 10 March 1881, Page 2

FIRE AT TE AWAMUTU.

This morning, at 3.15., the Te Awamntu fire bells, bad Te Avvamntu possessed such a luxury, would doubtless have been ringing violently. In lieu of the firebells, however, several members of the canine race — all duly licenced by Mr Sibley, the Registrar of Dogs— gave tongue in a startling manner. The cause of the shindy was soon apparent. The Central Waikato Hotel, kept by host Lewis, was on fire. It appears that Mr Lewis had retired, to rest about half past 11 o'clock, was "roused by his wife at 3 o'clock this morning, who' called his attention to noises taking place in the bar, which suggested the idea that some person had effected an entrance ,there. Proceeding, to the locality whence the noises arose, Mr Lewis at once discovered that the place was in flames. By this time Constable Gillies -was on. the spot with a few of the neighbours, who had been aroused by the (query? fire) dogs. On bursting open the doora leading from the inside of the hotel to the^bar it was discovered that the fire had got a firm hold of the premises. Thanks to prompt action and presence of mind, 'combined with many buckets of water' we hare still two hotels at Te Awaraiitu. The bar counter is solidy covered with zino. To this fact id attributed the reason that the entire hotel was riot destroyed, as the j fire is supposed to have originated below this counter, where" some straw had been j left, and on arriving at the zinc the; fire -had evidently received a tenlgbrary check. As it is, the bar is gutted, and a large quantity of spirits destroyed.. Our worthy constable, who is the hero of the day, has a sqmewbajb.limp appearance this morning, and is ev^denlty'4fioofced6pby hisgallant ' exertions at the; lire la.?tnjg-ht.> ( I think j that the attention of all Fire Insurance Companies doingv?ibusiness at Te Awamutu, should be .at once called to the fact, that thp) township 4«, np£ sp^He^ "with either fire ladder, a, fire-egeape, of a j hand fW en.gine.j V^biolpey^r 'wmDany! pro!?ide«; any ,{£, thes^/aafegaanls in 'case of fire, can rtfly' upon reoeiying,, cue, largest I amount of support jirom' insurer^. ' It*' is' 1 one thing fpr.aH^lnsurane^ Companies to Lga^le, on^the, evince' of-fW^rtok-pEt w low for fire canoe greatlylessened, if not entirelylprevented. r --{Own Correspeadent, Xc Awamutu, M*rcli 8.