GREAT FIRE AT REEFTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 505, 30 November 1881, Page 2

GREAT FIRE AT REEFTON.

Immense Destruction of Property. A private telegram received this morning by Mr Robert McFarlane of this town states that an extensive lire broke out in Reef ton this morning, which destroyed the following premises Dunn's cabinet--1 fjn r ; nijtfiHMiW'' 1 .-roi-ji-

maker ; Hampton’s fruit shop ; Seaton’* butchery ; Dawson’s public ball and hotel combined ; baker’s shop, formerly occu« pled—by one Oavill; Dank’s Hotel; Collins’ bootmaker; Finlay’s baker’s shop; ane Gothard’s butcher’s shop. The blaze was so great and the heat so intense that Cochrane's Hotel and other premises on the opposite side of the way were in considerable danger, and were only saved by the strenuous exertions of the proprietors. No further particulars are to hand at present.

[pee pebss association.] Rekpton, To-day. A great conflagration commenced about 2 o’clock this morning atFinlaykhakery. The properties destroyed were :—Michael Dune’s furniture warehouse and workshop : Frank Hampson’s shop and corn store ; Finlay’s shop and bakerv li ffQeorge Shepherd’s old butcher's (nnoccupied and owned by Dawson); Dswaon's hall; Dawson’s large two-storey hotel; Corbett’s bakery and shop j Dank’s hotel; and Collins’ bootmaker’s shop and workroom. The damage is. estimated at about L 15.000. The insurances were very small and the dead loss will therefore be a heavy one. ' Fears are entertained of a lodger at Dawson’s, named Petoc Alstad, having been burned to death. A search for the unfortunate than is now being made. Later. The charred remains of-Peter Alstad, a native of Denmark, have been found in th e debris. - - ?/.•' j