FIRE AT HASTINGS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2810, 22 January 1908, Page 16

FIRE AT HASTINGS.

SHOPS AND OFFICES DESTROYED. SUSPECTED INCENDIARISM. NAPIER January 14. , Hastings was the scene of another big conflagration on Tuesday morning. When the fire bell rang out its alarm it was found that a small wooden building in Station . street, kept as a restaurant by Mr ■ M. Johnson, amd known as the Silver Grid, j waa in flames. The fire .spread with such rapidity that even 'before the arrival of' the bri trade— only a minute or two later — the buildings on either side'of-'the restaurant had caught. Ovying *to some ' slight mishap it was- some 10 minutes' before^ water could be .'trot,* and during -that time' the fire had spread" to Hartshorn and' Wellwood's on one side, and. to T. _.M." Robertson's, fruiterer, on the other side. A further stoppage of the water pressure for five minutes enabled the fire to gain a further -hold, but a few 'minutes afterwards the brigade had the . fire . well -in hand, though if continued to burn for -nearly, two hours. Most of the buildings were old, which -probably accounted for the rapidity with whioh the flakes spread.

The 'businesses lmrnt^but" l Trere"Tiiartshorii and Wellwood (land agents^ George Ebbefcfr.\ (eolicitor), Johiißojii^(res}anrant),j3^Edgar- . Lewis (jeweller), \'f'H.S\.Onristiai» < S (bicycled ! *hop), O. Scaeffer (tobaoconisti.^F. Cassiu i (land agent), F: Fitzpatriok (billiard saloon , , Wooster (baker), Fraee-c and.Fagan>, '(tea An - porters),* Reynolds and Co. (bicycl« agents;, and T. M. Robertson (fruiterer). Hyde and Oo.'s. billiard saloon, at the rear of Robertson's and opening out .into the Grand . Hotel .right-of-way, was badly damaged, bj fire and water, but the two DilHard tablet seem to have escaped injury. 1 "''" In cbnnection' with"'the fire, Martin. J6hn« son, proprietor ','of< ■ the Silver ; Grid,'-' wa* } arrested this ' evening on a ' charge of alleged arson. , , " - . ■ THE INSURANCES. k . i The insurances are: — Buildings, owned by J., Blake. and occupied by- Hartshorn, pnd Wellwood, , accountants, £90 ,in the Alliance ; contents £50 in the Standard. G. Ebbett, solicitor, owner "and occupier. ' t building £12Q,--in thes-Yorkshire^.i.coritents „£25. j.Silver ,<?ri,d, owned by J17.~ A.-,itee-oroft and occupiedrby M. Johnson, ,£l5O in 'the Alliance ahd'£so in the Victoria.^ Building owned' by Sowersby, £350 in' the North Queensland (occupied ,by- E. 'Lewiß, watchmaker, 1 whose- stock is insured for £200 in the Sun office). Wooeter 'and ; , Co. - pasfcry.cooks, uninsured.! 'Fcaser and Fagan, unin_'sured. Fitzpatrick, billiard -saloon, uninsured. H". .Christian, stock £109^in~.th« Alliance 'Building owned by^W. G. Maddi^ son^' £350 in the Atlas; occupied by Reynolds and Co., whose stock was -insured for ' £450 in >the Alliance./- ,T- Robertson stock .£SO in the Standard. A. Hyde, ..billiard saloon,' £250 in the Alliance. / - January -15. Martin Johnson, proprietor of the restaurant in- which" Monday -night's fire at ! Hastings- originated, was brdught before the 1 court to-day, charged with wilfully .settine fire to the premises, and remanded „ till Thursday neck, bail (himself in £50 and on« surety in £50) being allowed.