BIG FIRE AT WANGANUI

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16143, 22 February 1918, Page 6

BIG FIRE AT WANGANUI

FOSTER'S HOTEL TOTALLY DESTROYED. (PRESS ASSOCIATION* TELEGRAM.) WANGANUI, February 21 At an early hour this evening, Foster's Hotel, a large three-storeyed wooden building on Taupo quay, >vas totally destroyed by fire. The outbreak evidently started in an upstairs bedroom, and spread with groat rapidity. When the town brigade arrived, the building Avas u mass of flames. Assistance also caine from the suburbau brigades, and for over' an hour a combined effort had to be made to prevent firo spreading into the adjoining business area. At one stage a boarding-house on the opposite side of Taupo quay caught alight. 'ine fire spread into Ross and Glendining's warehouse, adjoining Foster's Hotel, and was. not checked until considerable damage had been done. Foster's Hotel was crowded with visitors to the races, who lost all their effects. Details of the insurances are not obtainable, but it is understood there is a poncy of £8000 on the hotel building and £3500 on the furniture mostly in the London and Lancashire office. Jewellery belonging to the guests, valued at £3000, was in the hotel safe. Its fate is unknown. .itoss and Glendining's premises were mainlv damaged by water. The insurance on the building is £2800, in the South British office. Later. Further investigations prove that the wholo of Ross and Glendining's second storey was completely gutted by fire, while the stock downstairs was soaked with water. Foster's Hotol was one of Wanganui's landmarks. As the York Hotel it was established in 1857, the namo being later changcd to the Steam Packet, and eventually to Fosters, tho Foster family having ownocl it for thirty-six years. J