Disastrous Fire at Te Aroha.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 173, 25 January 1896, Page 2

Disastrous Fire at Te Aroha.

(Per Press Association). Auckland, January 23. A fire at Te Aroha destroyed tbe properties occupied by J. Woods, butcher ; A. Tonga, draper ; R. Brennan, shoemaker ; Club Hotel ; Park's boarding house ; Calder's fruitshop ; Waters, draper ; S. Bygrove, fruiterer ; F. Batten, watchmaker. All were burned to the ground. The New Zealand Insurance Company are the heaviest losers, their risk being estimated at about £2000. Hubert Cox, son of E. Y. Cox, of Sbaftsbury, sustained very severe injuries while getting through a window. He was badly cut about the arms by the broken glass, and also severely burned. Cox was to have left this morning to be married. Morrison, an invalid boarder, had a very narrow escape. He was unable to move himself, but was carried out at the J last minute. The fire started in the hotel about half-past three o'clock. The insurances are as follows, as far as can be ascertained :— New Zealand, £1775 on Park's house and Club Hotel. Of this amount £525 are re-insurances from the following offices— National £165, Norwich Union £165, Alliance £165, United £165, Standard £165. The re-insurances are all on the Club Hotel. The North British and Mercantile have £200 on Clnb Hotel and £50 on the stock. The United also had £300 on the contents of the Club Hotel, £150 being re-insured in the North Queensland. The United had a risk of £50 on Bremner's stock. The National bas £180 on the furniture and piano in Martha Kenny's boarding house and £140 on stock of George Bygrove, fruiterer, etc. The Norwish Union has £300 on Robbs' buildings and £165 on the Club Hotel, re-insured as stated above in New Zealand office. Dr Campbell owned the Club Hotel.