BIG FIRE AT WAIHI

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1919, Page 4

BIG FIRE AT WAIHI

SEVERAL BUSINESS HOUSES BURNISH.

WAIHI, March 22. } The most destructive tire in Waihi j for the past sixteen or seventeen years occurred about 3 o'clock this morning, idle premises destroyed being those of Hetherington’s Ltd., drapers, Hague Smith, Ltd., ironmongers and house furnishers; amt the Stirling boardinghouse and garage; while the premises of 11. .7. Say, butcher, and other premises in the vicinity suflered more or less through fire and water. The properties destroyed were in the business centre in geddon Street, and involved losses representing several thousands of pounds. Hetherington’s ( were one of the two drapery firms in j the town, and carried stock valued j at about £GOOO, which, together with a building worth about £2OOO was completely demolished, while Smith’s build- , jug and stock were also totally lost. The building was valued at £I,OOO and the stock at between £4OOO and £SOOO The Stirling Boardinghouse, formerly an hotel, contained about forty rooms, and was not covered by insurance, the companies having dropped all policies held on hotel premises when no-license was carried in Ohinemuri some ten years ago. The premises were owned by Mr J. L. Stevens, who had insurance of £l5O on the garage, formerly used as a livery stable. The 'brigade turned out promptly and strenuously fought the outbreak which at- one stage looked like carrying away the block on the opposite side of the intersecting street, but a change of wind together with the efforts of the brigade, saved the situation, and flic damage in this block was confined to about £l5O on Mr Say’s butchery premises and comparatively slight damage to I). Donaldson’s sample rooms and residence and the shop of D. Saunders, cabinetmaker and undertaker. ' When closed after business hours on Saturday night everything appeared to be safe on the premises of Haguc-Smith and Company and Hetlioringtons, Ltd., and there is nothing to show where the fire started, though it believed that it broke out in the rear portion of the j building of one or other of these firms. Mr Say bad an insurance of £OOO on the stock and plant with the South British office and £450 on the building with the same office. Hague Smith's insurance arc with the Australian Alliance and represents a substantial sum, but the exact amount cannot yet he ascertained as all the insurances were affected from head office at I’aeroa. Hethcriiigton’s insurances are not available, but it is believed that the building was covered for £IOOO and the stock for £2,500 in various offices. This firm’s losses exceed £3OTX).