A Calamity Averted.

Feilding Star, Volume XIX, Issue 37, 12 August 1897, Page 2

A Calamity Averted.

One of the narrowest escapes from total destruction by fire occurred at the Awaburi Hotel last night. It appears that tbe Feilding Hivnl Minstxels, who just concluded their performance in the local hall, were accompanied to Awahuri by some Feilding people who had attended tbe entertainment, and in the meantime bad stored their " bikes " in tbe dininp room of tbe betel. A» about 10.30 Mr O'Beilly, tbe landlerd, having occasion to enter tbe room to replace some chairs that had been borrowed by the troupe, fonnd tbe two bicycles on fire. Bashing ont to obtain water be on his return found the whole side and end of the room a mass of flame. The alarm was quickly given and numbers of willing hands rushed to assist. A plentifnl supply of water and backets was clcrae at band, and then' ensued a fierce battle with the flames which, after about ten minutes almost superhuman efforts on the part of those engaged, were sabdued, but not until a great deal of damage had been dane. The paper and scrim on tbe room was all burnt, the wooden work and ceiling also being destroyed. Several valuable oil paintings, ornaments, and furniture were destroyed. Mr O'Beilly estimates bis loss at not less than £100. Special mention must be made of tbe gentlemen who were opportunely on the spot when the outbreak occurred, and so ably assisted in quelling the same. Messrs J. Collingwood aud B. F. Haybittle were the first with buckets of water, Mr B. Bilderbeck running the wrecks of the bikes out into a neighbouring horse pond. Mr leitt, as was natural to do 80, rusbcd straight to the pump, oalling upon all to go nnto him, and receive a plentiful supply of the pure article. The highest praise must be accorded to this gentleman for his severe exertions in keeping all the workers supplied with water. The upstairs portion of tbe hotel was enveloped in clouds of smoke and it was at first thought the fire had broken through. Tbe lady assistant downstairs thinking her sister had retired, bysterioally requested Mr B, Hammond to "Save her sister Mary," Imbued with a love for the fair sex, Mr ' Hammond boldly ruthed through fire and smoke and succeeded in finding the room, but it was locked, bunting the door opap, he wai mortified to find tba bed empty, . the lady in question at the time being at the Hall iadnlging in tbe light fantastic. Mr G. H. Tarrant did yeoman's service with the buckets, also several natives whose names it was impossible to obtain. The origin of the fire is attributed to the bursting of one ot the bike lamps, but opinions differ on this point. Mr O'Beilly is insured in one of the Feilding Insurance offices. An old man was lying asleep in tbe room at tbe time the alarm waa raised, and was partly overcome by tbe smoke. Mr B. F. Haybittle, seeing the position, at once rushed to his rescue and had some dtffionlty id getting him out.