PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2584, 3 October 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[united press association.]

Wellington, October 2,

On Saturday night last, during a heavy rain storm, two men, Snowden and Batterfield, started across country from Sherwood railway station for home. After going some distance, Batterfield missed Snowden, He searched, but failed to find him. Next morning Snowden was found dead about half-a-mile from where Batterfield missed him, both men had been drinking. Snowden died from congestion of the lungs, caused by exposure. Auckland, October 2, The body of the Frenchman drowned at Tauranga has been recovered. A boy named James Edie, while gathering ferns on the bank of the Waikato at Hamilton, slipped in and was drowned. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT INVERCARGILL. Invercargill, October 2. This morning the constable on duty in Dee street, found W. Smith’s drapery establishment on fire. The Fire Brigade was soon on the ground, but nothing could be done to prevent the destruction of the buildings, which were of brick. The shop of James Craig, watchmaker, on south side, was in great danger, and so was Sloan’s Theatre adjoining. The Dunning Opera Company removed their property and then rendered valuable assistance in pumping and saving property, as it was the Theatre is somewhat damaged. Adjoining Smith’s shop on the north side was the boot warehouse of R. Sloan and Sons, and this soon caught. Between this and the next building, occupied by Reid and Fergusson, watchmakers, was an iron wall, and for a long time the brigade kept the flames from getting beyond this. At nine o clock, however, when everybody thought all was safe, the end of Fergusson’s took fire in several places and spread from there to that of Ross, fruiter, Clive, seedsman, and Cowper and Wilson, ironmongers. All these places were burned right down, but before this a good deal of the stock was got out. The Prince of Wales Hotel, which is separated from Cowper’s and Wilson’s by a right of way was in great danger, and was only saved owing to a brick wall between it and the burning shop. Had the hotel caught tire the block might have been swept away to Spey street and great loss occasioned. Nothing is known as to the origin of the Fire. Total insurances, £18,650.