BIG FIRE AT WAIHI

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 153, 24 March 1919, Page 6

BIG FIRE AT WAIHI

HEAVr LOSSES

STRENUOUS FIGHT WITH THE !■.■ FLAMES j '"'By Teleeraph-Press Association. !:■■■', Waihi, March 23. ' L The most destructive fire in Waihi for the past sixteen or' seventeen years occurred about 3 o'clook this morning, the premises destroyed being thoso of Hethertngton's, Ltd., drapers; Ilaguoand Smith, Ltd., ironmongers and house furnishers; and the Stirling Boardingliouse and garage, while the premises of li. J. Say, butcher, and other premises in the vicinity suffered more or less through flro and \vater. The properties destroyed wore in fhe business centre, in Seddon Street, and involved losses representing several thousands of pounds. HeSherington's were one 'of 'two drapery firms in the town, nnd 'carried • stock valued '.at about dCCOOO, Which, together with .a. building worth ■about .£2OOO, was completely demolished, iwhile Hague and Smith's building and 'etook were also a total loss, the building being valued at dSIGOO nnd the stock at ■between'£looo and .£SOOO. The Stirling Bosrdingliouse, which was formerly an Sotel, contained about forty rooms, and ,Vaa not covered by insurance, tho comjmniee having dropped all-licenses held wn hotel .premises when no liconso was 'iarried in Ohinemuri some ten yearn ago. The premises ware owned by Sfr. J. L. Stevens, who had an insurance of ,£l5O on the garage, which was formerly used as a livery stable. The brigade turned out promptly, and 'strenuously fought the outbreak, which ■at one stage looked like carrying away [the block on the opposite side of the intersecting street, but a change of wind, together with the efforts of the brigade, saved the situation, and the damage in this block was confined to about £150 on IM'.\ Say's butchery premises and comparatively slight damage to D. Donaldsons (sample rooms and the residence and of D. Saunders,'cabinetmaker and j undertaker. ;•;. i The Insurances, (■'' When closed after business hours on 'Saturday night everything appeared to bo safo on the premises of Hague and Smith and Hetherington's. Ltd., and there is uoStbing to show where the fire started, [though it is believed th.it it broke out in .'the rear portion of the building of one or iother of these firms. Mr. Say had an injsorance of ,£6OO on stock and plant with !tho South British Office and .£450 on the [bililding with the same office Hngue and {'Smith's insurances are with the Australian Alliance, and represent a substantial jeuni, but the exact amount cannot yet !be ascertained, as all the insurances were i effected from the head office at Paeroa. Hetherington's insurances are not availlable, but it is believed the building was fcovered by a line of ,£IOOO and the stock [for, £5000 in various offices. .Tho firm's I loss exceeds ,£3OOO. ' . . | : :■ . ... —