DISASTROUS FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1872, 3 September 1918, Page 3

DISASTROUS FIRE.

WHYTE’S HOTEL TOTALLY DESTROYED. PORTION MOUTOA BUILDINGS DEMOLISHED. A disastrous fire occurred on Saturday evening, as a result of which Whyte’s Hotel and the Moutoa Buildings, with the exception of the portion occupied by Mr J. Walls, baker, were totally destroyed. The outbreak occurred about 6.30 o’clock, in the hotel storeroom, and was first noticed by one of the boarders on coming out of the diningroom after dinner. Smoke was then issuing from the direction of the storeroom. The alarm was immediately given, but when the door of the room was opened it was found impossible to stop the fire, the only fire-fighting apparatus at hand being small patent extinguishers. The fire had apparently been smouldering in the storeroom for some little time, as the place was full of smoke when the door was opened, and the draft from the door quickly fanned the flames, and those who were on the spot recognised that it would be impossible to save the building. They turned their attention to an attempt to get out some of Mr and Mrs Freeman’s personal property and effects, but after one or two trips up and down the stairs all efforts in this direction were prevented by the smoke and intense heat. The building, which was constructed of heart of totara, burned very fiercely, and in a very short space of time was a mass of flames. The heat was so great that it was almost impossible to stand on the opposite side of the street, and the plate-glass windows

in that vicinity suffered severely, several being broken and others were only saved by the protection of wet sacks, etc. When the fire was at its highest there was a great crowd in the street, being possibly the largest number that has been seen out at one time. Those pre-

sent could do little else hut stand and watch tin 1 conflagration, the rapidity with which the fire burned,

the intense heat, and want of firefighting appliances preventing anything being done. For a time it was feared that Mr Rimmer’s general store on the opposite side of Whyte Street, which is built of wood, would catch, hut a small hand of willing workers, with Foxton’s only fire appliances patent extinguishers, buckets of water, and wet sacks —

kept the fire at bay. At one stage

matters looked so serious that Mr Riminer decided to got some of his stock out in case the building should catch, ami a large quantity was removed, but this precaution was unnecessary, as the work of the bucket brigade kept the fire from getting a hold of (he building'. The hotel building was razed !o Ihe ground within an hour after the outbreak occurred.

For some time it was thought that the Moutoa Buildings adjoining the hotel, which were constructed of brick, would successfully withstand the fire, but when the hotel outbreak was at its highest the /lames licked through Ihe windows of the billiard room and also a window upstairs from the portion occupied by Mrs Teviotdale, and through the roof skylight, and the woodwork on the roof. A chimney on the hotel property collapsed and fell against: the brick building, making a hole in the roof, through which the

flames quickly found their way. The building was soon alight on the inside, and it wa : seen that it was only a matter of time when same Avonldbe gutted. The progress of the tire was now much slower. The interior of the billiard-room was well alight, and the glare from same

could be seen through the windows ;md ventilators of Mr Barr’s premises. After burning for some little time the flames gradually found their way into (be portion of the building occupied by Mr Barr, and

when the drapery stock took tire the ■whole building was enveloped in u

dense smoke. This, however, quiek*ly cleared, the beat broke (lie large plate-glass windows, and, fanned by • the draft, the flames leaped through the windows of-both the downstairs and upstairs portion of the building, and burned very fiercely. The roof collapsed, as also did the wall between the billiard saloon and draper’s simp. Shortly after ten o’clock the whole of the front of the building from (he portion adjoining (ho iiojcl to Mr Wtills’ bakery, collapsed and foil, some tons of •debris covering the footpath. This Iron! Avail broke off at the junction of Mr Barr’s premises with that of Mr Willis’, Avhich undoubtedly saved Mr Walls’ premise's from being destroyed. The tiro premises Avore separated by a brick wall, but had the front not fallen in this would not have prevented the fire from spreading, as they flames avoulc! have ticked around fi;e building and through the windows. When it was seen that the brisk- building would certainly be destroyed the Avork of removing Mr Walls’ fittings, furniture and effects was commenced. A large quantity was removed, but Aery considerable damage to same was clone through breakages, etp. At 10.30 o’clock all that remained of Moutoa Buildings was the portion occupied by Mr V alls, the other part being a mass of debris, portions onlv of some of t he Avails standing. All that av;s 1-eft of Whyte’s Hotel were the chimneys. The Avhole of the buildings were owned by Mr F. S. Easton. Whyte’s Hotel Avas insured for £1,750 in the Victoria Office. .There was a cover of t£3sfl on Mr Wanklyn’s three billiard tahle-s, accessories and furniture in the Btaie Office; Mr Ban’s drapery stock was'

insured for £2,100 with the New Zealand Insurance Company; Mrs Teviotdale had a eovfer of £l5O on her furniture and personal effects in the Guardian Office. The contents of Whyte’s Hotel, the property of Mr Freeman, were insured for £1,340 (stock £4OO, hotel furniture £7OO, private furniture and effects £l5O, and piano £9O), all in the London, Liverpool and Globe Office. There was no insurance on the Moutoa Buildings. At midday yesterday 7 Mr Bedford, the insrirnnce adjuster, arrived in Foxton to fix up the various insurance claims. The chimneys left standing from Whyte’s Hotel were razed to the ground yesterday. A good deal of pilfering of stock removed from Mr Rimmer’s premises during the height of the lire is reported. It appears that a number of people attend outbreaks of lire for the purpose of “getting away” with anything (hey can lay their hands on. Report hath it that one man was seen making away with a roll of bacon, closely followed by another man. The thief thinking that his pursuer was following him for the purpose of satisfying the ends of justice, dropped the bacon and escaped. The other man promptly nicked it up ami took it home. The destruction of Whyte’s Hotel removes another of Foxton s old landmarks. This building was one of the oldest in our Main Street, having been built in 1876 for the late Mr A. J. Whyte. Mr F. E. Jenks was one of the painters employed on the painting of same. The hotel was opened on December Ist, 1876, and was a stopping place for Cobb’s line of coaches which travelled along the beach to and from Wellington. After Mr Whyte’s death it was conducted on behalf of the estate, and later by the late Mrs A. J. Whyte, who leased same to Mr J. R. Stansell on August oth, 1889. Mr J. R. Stansell continued in occupation until November, 1897, when lie transferred same to his son. Mr A. C. Stansell. It was subsequently taken over by Mr and Mrs I'. Haywood, and when their term expired was managed for some time on behalf of the owners by Mr J. E, Hall, Then came Mr W. J. White, who conducted same for live years, and sold out to the present licensee, Mr Freeman, some six years ago. The building contained 32 rooms.