The Opuanke Fire.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 3, 1 June 1885, Page 4

The Opuanke Fire.

(UNITBU PiUiSS ASSOCIATION.) '_ Haw bra, Saturday. \ . The only particulars re the Opunake fire, by -which Prosser's Hotel was -tU'sbfoybd,' as yet tolliandj are that, the lire -commenced about j3 o'clock^ at tlfe WtstT ftns Jofjjtti e building. Some shavings ir/DttHiiPs furniture shop, on the opprtsite'ebV- ; ncr, caught (ire, but it wasfortunhtely discovered m time, otherwise there is no d oubt several buildings between DufßlKs, Land; '■'■■ (JrowthcrY -would ;have gone. The alarm was' given by Mr Crow.tber byl ringing the school bell. . .{rhe/:qause is not known. The bu ilding was idfcstroy ed with extraordinary^ rapidity. The fire was first noticed about ? half-past ijthree, ancl by font? b'cloqkcthe builii•ing ■ was o, totally ■ destroyed, there being a, strongs wind blowing at the time. -Whether, the; /ire broke out m the billiard-room: ■or J;he-'storeroo!m appears to.^be a mystery. t) f A quanf: tityl of fui^iture was saved, but; nothing to any great: j^alue. 1 The hotel was ;bu ilt ; ; abpn t fi ye years ago,.andr was] very • cojnfbrtatjle and comnlodiousi ).'Khei"e were abojut twenty bedroom.Sviand .large dining and billiard rooms. Some time ago extensive stabling w^asHurht down, . but- the -insurance policy ■• had expired a few days before, and it had riot beer reinsured; -The building cost over oPiOOO,-- 'so the proprietor must be a heavy Joser. - r :rhe hotel was built by:;Mr;John'Prosser} who! was well ..■knownviiii;) AVellington some years ago, and was? leased to his broth eri, -Mr ' Sam iiel; Pro sser , Avpio t<an a coach from Wellington to Pa-hautanu-i . many years, but sold out m order to. take over the E|mpire Hotel at Opunake. ; Therje- are few " hotels ■Ur be found; m co^unby towns like the one just burnt down, and it was very handsomely-ilir-nished. ; ■■■■■■•: \