Fire at Napier.

Manawatu Herald, 28 May 1896, Page 3

Fire at Napier.

A serioue fire broke out at five o'clock on Saturday morning in the Masonic Hotel, leased by Mr Frank Moeller, and owned by Messrs Neal and Close. By the time the inmates were aroused the fire was spreading rapidly, and some only managed to escape in what they stood. The flames were deepest rooted in the

centre of the hotel, but the Spit and

Napier Brigades managed to confine outbreak to the hotel itself. The whole of the building was gutted, and the goods in the shops of Beresford, tobacconist, Smytho, bookseller, Burnett, vlothier, and Eccles, chemist, were damaged by water. The insurances on the building are £4500 in several offices ; contents £2280. Palmer's livery stables also were de ■troyed. Mr Moeller is a heavy loser.

The fire broke out in the kitchen

The alarm was first given by one of servants who was sleeping in a roonj immediately above the kitchen.

She was aroused by suffuoating fumes of smoke, and quickly woke the others sleeping in that part of the building, and then proceeded to sound a general alarm. How the fir» atoited is a mystery, und will probably remain so. Everything was apparently safe when the inmates were retiring for the night. Many of the boarders left the whole of their personal effect a. In-

deed several had barely time to dress; go rapidly did the fire spread. One of the heaviest losers is Mr Thomas Morrison, the well-known journalist; who happened, to be at Hastings that night, having gotie there to report the Premier's meeting on behalf of the Press Association.

Mr J. Magionityj the well known musician bos lost much of his property, his room being almost imine* diately above the spot where the fire started.

Amongst the other boarders were Mr and Mrs Bride of Ptuea, Mrs Gleudioniog of Wairoa, and some tourists from London sustain considerable lcS3.

The Spit and Napier Brigades did splendid work;