LARGE FIRE IN NAPIER.

Hastings Standard, Issue 24, 23 May 1896, Page 2

LARGE FIRE IN NAPIER.

MASONIC HOTEL DESTROYED. STABLES ALSO BURNT TO THE GROUND. OTHER PLACES DAMAGED. [From Our Owx Correspondent.] Napier, This Day. At 4.55 this morning the bells rang ont clamorously, and from their vigorous and persistent appeal it was evident a fire of some magnitude was in progress. The brilliant swaying rejection in the sky left no doubt as to the location of the tire, and on proceeding in the direction of Marine Parade the rear half of the promises known as MOllor's Masonic Hotel was discovered in one burning mass.

The flames leaped and tongued from the windows, licking the outside woodwork and gradually invading and enveloping room after room, until it became a matter of the gravest doubt whether any portion of the huge building c-ould be saved. Indeed, at one period owing to a fresh S.E. breeze blowing from the sea the safety of the entire block was endangered. Marine Parade, Tennyson - steet, Hastings-street, and Emerson-street, were thronged with people, and strenuous efforts were made to save the furniture and effects with unfortunately not the success they deserved. It it a matter of conjecture as to the cause of the fire, but it is supposed to have originated in the laundry and extended to the other portions of the house with such alarming rapidity that most of the visitors and servants had only time to save themselves, leaving their clothes and valuables. One gentleman, a Mr Newman, travelling for a jewellery firm lost a large amount of trinkets and stones valued at a considerable amount, and several other ladies and gentlemen were obliged to abandon their jewellery to the flames.

At 5 o'clock the Napier Volunteer Fire Brigade were on the scene, and the Spit Fire Brigade rattled gallantly up shortly after, both bodies setting to work with such promptitude, energy, and system that, although half the building was a seething, swelling mass of flame on their arrival, within two hours they had the fire completely under control. Mr Palmer's new livery stables, adjoining the hotel, which are built of brick, escaped with a severe scorching, but the old stables next them were burnt to the ground, the horses being rescued early. The extreme front of the Masonic is standings but is ruined by the effects of fire and water, and the stock of the Napeir Hat Factory and Beresford's (tobacconist) sustained considerable damage. The total insurance on the Masonic Hotel amounts to £'5,250, and the contents £2,200. The offices concerned are the Imperial, Alliance, Standard, New Zealand, Phoenix, London and Lancashire, London, Liverpool, and Globe, North British and Mercantile, Victoria, Manchester, United, and Norwich Union. The Norwich Union holds a risk of £2,000, and the other offices from £'2so to £SOO.