A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1917, Page 1

A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

DANNEVIRKE BURNT OUT. ALL COMMERCIAL CENTRE GONE. [per press association. —COPYRIGHT.] DANNEVIRKE, This Day. A most disastrous lire yesterday afternoon devastated the heart of the commercial area of the town. This is now a scene of desolation. Only brick walls and chimney' stacks are now an indication fit’ where the business of the place oiice flourished. The blow to the town is naturally a disastrous one, as apart from the structures, and s .p;>ck destroyed, hundreds of employees will be idled, and a general dislocation of business must ensue. The fire broke out in Andrews Hotel, an immense old wooden s.ruoturo at the corner of High and Stations streets. | A westerly gale, fanned the (lames from the rear of the hoiol and within three minutes, the whole of the upper portion was wrapped in flames,, the occupants having barely time to escape. Though tin* Fire Brigade was early >f work their primitve appliances, and the. gigantic ',nature d|f - conflagration made their ■ efforts appear puny. In a few minutes the whole place was a holocaust. The. flames soon (jumped the wide street to the Dannovirke Cooperative Association’s big store house opposite the hotel.' The Masonic Hotel was soon ablaze. Despite the efforts of tile brigade and other willing helpers the flames spread east and west, north and south. The tire started at two oelock mid it was five o’clock before it could bo said that the. brigade had the upper hand. There was no loss of life and no serious accident. It is estimtaed that the loss is alraut £200,000. The places destroyed, all being practically rf total loss were Andrews- Hotel. Harris and Son., Livery Stables. John Pengol Green, draper. Theodore Wy.score, tailor. Richard Roall Auctioneer. Wong laundry. Danneirke. Co-operative Association. Arthur IT. Hall, Tobacconist. Peter J. Moinand, Jeweller. Rosse, tailor. Thomas J. Flynn, bootmaker. Theo Thomsen, hairdresser. Edward E. Prior Chemist.. James Neagle, motor importer. Rose Limited Auctioneers. John Percival Dodds, music store. Lucy Miller, confectioner. monel, -X. Bartlette, Bootmaker. Drummond, Hodder and Coy, Ironmongers. George L, Bartlett, tobacconist. ('. Hooper, tobacconist. Arthur I*. Coobbor, Bookseller. George A. Cnarinan, Restauranter. Malcolm MeCalluin, Watchmaker. .Masonic Hotel. Quining Gee and Co. Armstrong and Morrison, drapers. Dannovirke and Herbertville Coaching 'Coy. Collett and Son, Ironfomulry. Also many sample rooms and outbuildings. .~e Dannovirke Co-operative Association have the biggest loss. Ilnur stock, valued at present prices, representing approximately a loss of fifty thousand while the insurano is about twenty-live thousand. They employed so von tv hands.

Andrews Ij-Jotel, owned by -Messrs Andrews and Mrs. Lovell, was insured but tile amount is not vet available.

The Masonic Hotel owned by. the the Allardyce estate, was also insured as were .most of .the other places',- and stocks, the policies running into lhany thousands.. 'Practically all the Insurance companies have been heavily hit, while the loss is many thousands hi excess <4 I In? insurance.