FIRE AT SALOON.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8829, 4 June 1907, Page 2

FIRE AT SALOON.

At midday on Sunday the inhabitants of the township were alarmed by the cry of fire. A general rush was made for the main street, where it was discovered that the Junction Hotel was in flames. The fire broke out in an upstairs sitting room, where a fire had been left while the family had gone down to dinner. It is supposed that a spark from the fireplace sot fire to the mantle droe. The flames had a strong hold before some passers by noticed the smoke issuing from the windows. In the absence of a supplyjof water it was impossible to save the building, which was an old one and burned like matchwood. Inside of half an hour the place was a complete wreck, only the chimne-* s remaining. A considerable amount of the stock and downstairs furniture was saved. Mr Morse, the proprietor, will be a heavy loser, as most of his private furniture, including a number of valuablo wedding presents, were upstairs and destroyed. Most of the books and papers were saved, but a bag containin £2G worth of threepenny pieces was overlooked. The Royal Exchange Insurance Company held a risk of £BOO on the building, furniture £2OO, stock £IOO, and £3O on the piano. The Commercial Union held £SO on private effects. A temporary bar was opened in accordance with the Act yesterday.