FIRE LOSS OF £7000,

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1709, 28 March 1913, Page 6

FIRE LOSS OF £7000,

" I HOTISI/,' BALL.'-ANjD HOUSES.'. : (By Telegraph.—Presa Association.) Wairoa, Marcti 27. What it is feared may'prove to be a big fire'lias just broken out .'west of the Clyde Hotel. ThoJubilce Hall is burning, and the Clyde Hotel is seriously threat-' enwl. -The fire out in an old building. ~ ' Later. The fire which was briefly reported as starting- -at 2.15 . p.m. to-day developed into a,disastrous, blaze, resulting m tho destruction of two small unoccupied shops,' the ' Jubilee Hall, and the Clyde Hotel, with outbuildings and mosit of the contents. The fire started'in an old unoccUpied shop next the Jubilee-Halt, which* soon .caught, and burnt fiercely. The hotel—a .large-double-story buildin?, though iron on the side —was doomid Trom' tlie' first,-"and, when; the windows were broken, the flames entered and tho premises wero soon a roaring furnace. Sheets of,iron were lifted up and thrown 4igh'>iii v'the air, and in falling ienited the"pirtbuildings. All was soon reduced -to'ash'es." . . ;

Strenuous exertions were made to sav; the residence of Mr. J. Taylor, grocer, nnd so stopped.tKe"; fire : from spreading to another block. As i", was, various places in town were set on fire by sparks, including dwelling close by the new Presbyterian Churcit, but these outbreaks were'put out. , ' t .. ;' j I'he origin of the fire is a mystery, as the old building was kept securely locked. The total loss is £7000. .Insurances known so far amount to ,£750. The hotel, however, is insured by the owners, bat the amount is not known .here.