The Fire at Waipawa.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1600, 5 January 1886, Page 4

The Fire at Waipawa.

FURTHER PARTICULARS,

(fBR UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Napier, Monday. W ( hen.the news reached Napier it spread like wildfire, and very soon a number of firemen had collected at the brigade station, ready to proceed'to Waipawa if their services were required. After the receipt of telegrams from Kaikora, the nearest village telegraph station, it was determined to take up the steam engine if the consent of the trustees could be obtained, and that was given. on the Corporation- agreeing „to turn the high pressure water supply into ' all the mains during the absence of the engine. A special train was then run to Waipawa with the. engine and a party of firemen and insurance agents. Waipawa. was reached shortly after noon. Ail danger was then reported to be over, but it was determined to utilise the engine to quench the smonldering embers; It was fortunate that the brigade re inained, for after playing on the ruins for two hours, and just as the firemen were talking of stopping work and re turning to town, another cry of " Fire " was raised. A boardinghouse higher up the street, owned and occupied by Me Carson, was suddenly found to be on fire. The furniture, which had all been removed m the morning had just been replaced, when it was found that there was a strong fire under the building. How it originated was a mystery, but it i« supposed that a spark from the smouldering ruins must have ignited some rubbish under the house. In a very short time the firemen had coupled several more lengths of hose, but even m that brief period the flames had obtained such a strong 1 hold that the cottage could not bY saved. When it became apparent that the house must go the firemen turned their attention to preventing the spread of the fire, and m that they succeeded, though the twostorey blocK occupied by Messrs Wood and Harding was considerably scorched. At one time' it 'seemed as if the 'brigade . woald not be able to control the fire, so fiercely did it burn, and the gravest apprehension were entertained, for had Hoarding's place caught the fire must have spread to Wood's and Moore's, and it is almost a certainty that with the wind then blowing it would have crossed the road to Mr Rathbone's large store . which would have meant the destruction of all the business part of Waipawa, and most strenuous efforts were made to confine 1 the fire, fortunately with success. It was universally admitted that for the presence of the' fire engine nearly the whole of the township must have gone. As it was considerable, damage was done to the furniture and stock of Harding Ward, and Moore, which for the second time had to be nattily removed to Mr Lyon's premises ort the other side of the street. Mr Carson's had a very narrow escape. All the furniture was again removed from hia house and the others adjoining. At 7 o'clock all was sate, and the brigade and angine returned to town. . ..