FIRE AT ONEHUNGA.—THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL DESTROYED.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 2, Issue 78, 29 June 1868, Page 155

FIRE AT ONEHUNGA.—THE COURTHOUSE HOTEL DESTROYED.

,' (Prom tto Souttutoi dross, 13th June:) Information^as; received in town yesterdayvby Mr Commissioner Naugb - ton that a- fire had occurred at Onehiinga at o’clock yesterday morning: by jvhich theHotel, owned and occupied by Mr H. Powning' Stark, was totally destroyed. The fire is said toihave been first discovered by Miss Stark, who at'once • arcused her parents, and the whole of the inmates were soon in a place of safety. At thetime ofthe fire there were eight persons r residing in the building, viz., Mr and Mrs Stark, and four children ; Mr Sfeleene, a lodger; and the servant. So rapid was the progress of the flames, that- it wasi.as much as the inmates could manage to do. to save their own lives ; and the whole of, the, household, and personal property was totally destroyed, the only things saved being a few clothes from one of. the back rooms. A large crowd, of people collected' round 'the scene; of the conflagration,,and every assistance that it was possible to render was most willingly given. The family found shelter for the rest of the morning in; the house of one. of! 'the on the spot, and rendered very valuable assistance, ! ’ ’W;e. learn that the house wag insured of; £6OO, uninsured./, ' '<" L ; . iQur Qnebung^ —" The fire was first observed at the back part of' wind at the time being the west. The whole * foott in a blaze, and, in> ab6uthalf:an-hour,nothing, remained;. of ( most substantial built fiousfeSj Kbut - out -of\ three chimneys; QiiAfeli very quicklyat the same time a loud report was beard, , supposed Jo be caused by come- gunpowder, in flasks; belonging~to a gentleman have exploded .in the fireplace of ’the fallen chimney. We regret to say the unfortunate proprietor, Mr ; H. P. Stark, was unable to remove anything, and had to make the quickest escape possible with Mrs Stark, family, and household. The furniture, bar-fiitings, and stock were uninsured; the building is j insured in the Royal only, one-fourth of the original cost. It was built by the former proprietor, Mr S., J. Williams, in 1864, at an outlay of <£2,400. The three houses opposite were occupied by Messrs Quinn, Driver, and ■ Walker/. For some time it was doubtful whether they would not have to • share the same fate, but owing to the ? strenuous exertions of a few persons • under, the direction of constable Lloyd, they managed to keep the roofs and other parts of the houses saturated with ’ water. As it was, thei front of the 1 buildings was considerably scorched, and the canvas-top verandah of Quinn’s was soon destroyed.. , The fire was first discovered by one ofthe. daughters of : Mr. Stark, who observed;'the flaines . coming through thefloonhg of her. bedroom. It is not known-for certain , which room it originated in—so rapid were the flames that no time; as ’ above stated; Avas for Anything [ but ; to ; escape . with’ their .lives. Amongst the things destroyed were a considerable sum of (honey, and other ; valuable articles; belonging to Mr Skeene, who was residing there.; The , following gentlemen were conspicuous > in rendering assistance,:, —Messrs Da*. » vies; Brimiier, Codlin, ;Couch, Gillman, ’ Simpkins,' Captain' O’Gonnell; with a , few others. 'We mention this sis there i were several who preferred , lounging » with their hands'ia their pockets; which 3 speaks badly for men in emergency like 5 the above catastrophe.”