THE GREAT FIRE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 July 1933, Page 4

THE GREAT FIRE

OF 64 YEARS AGO. To-day marks the G4th anniversary of the great fire in Revell Street, thatdevastated the west side of Revell Street from the vicinity of where Mrs Hackell’s shop now stands, to Mr W. F. Williams’ chemist shop. The fire took place in the early morning of Sunday, July 18th, 1869, and practically, a whole block on the west side of Revell Street was wiped out. Only through the efforts of many willing workers was the fire stopped, and not before several buildings were pulled down to make a break. The damage caused was estimated to be about £20,000. In addition to the fire damage a number of the business places suffered injz-ury by the removal of stock, considerable Ices being sustained. The buildings destroyed with much of their contents included:--Levey’s oyster saloon (where the outbreak started), Ramage (tailor), Mess \bookseller), Myerstein (ironmonger), McGovern’s Rising Sun Hotel, Ross (fruiterer), Haig and Perkins (photographers, Hotel de France, and Southland Restaurant, R. Walker’s Casino de Venice, H. Goldstone (draper) R.. Webb (fruiterer), Oriental Hotel, W. Johnston (ironmonger), Last (building pulled dowii) Faulkner (hail* dresser, building pulled down). The heaviest loser was estimated to b® Mi* Johnston with building and stock, whose total loss was estimated to be over £5,000. After,the fire when rebuilding operations were commenced, the right of way alongside the. present premises of Mies Holmes, was formed so as to give some protection against future outbreaks.