FIRES IN PALMERSTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 18 March 1909, Page 3

FIRES IN PALMERSTON.

At about 10.30 on Tuesday night the tailoring establishment of Messrs Collinson and Cunninghame in the Square was found to be on fire. „

A high wind was blowing, which quickly fanned the flames into a tremendous blaze. The flames quickly mounted up through the roof, and the whole of the top floor was a solid mass of flame. The high brick wall of the adjoining building acted as an effective fire break, and, but for this, and the fact that the adjoining shops on the other side were low one-story buildings, it is hard to say where destruction would have ended. The brigade, however, who got to work with a will at last secured the mastery not, however, till the back poftipn of Col? linsou and Cunqiughame’s was completely gutted. The rear portion of the adjoining boot shop occupied by Thacker and Go., was considerably damaged by fire and water, and the rear of Levy’s tobacconist shop also damaged.

The insurances on Collinsonand Cunninghame’s stock are as follows : —,£1050 in the Commercial Union, ,£750 in the New Zealand, £SOO in the Northern. At about x 1 o’clock yesterday another alarm of fire was given, and dense volumes of smoke was seen arising from the roof of the Royal Thp \vas

quickly on the spot and soon had the fire under control. Considerable damage however was done by fire and water.

The firebell again rang just after one o’clock, and again it was discovered that the Royal Hotel w. s on fire, and by the time the brigade arrived the flames had a strong hold in the roof of the building. The fire had too big a hold for the brigade to save the hotel, the top portion which was completely destroyed, but their efforts kept it from spreading, though the stocks in the adjoining buildings were considerably damaged by water.

On the hotel the New Zealand office holds the main risk—,£2ooo on the wooden portion and ,£2OOO on the brick. There is also a risk on the wooden structure of £SOO held by the Liverpool, Loudon, and Globe. The latter company are also liable for the hotel furniture to the extent of £ISOO.