A BIG FIRE AT TARANAKI.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2619, 12 August 1881, Page 2

A BIG FIRE AT TARANAKI.

[By Tklkghaph.] Nkw Pi.t.mouth, An". 12. A fire broke out at three o’clock this morn in," at Murphy’s boarding-house, alongside the Oddfellow’s Hall. It was first discovered by Mr May of the spcctocopc (?) who was awoke by a smell of smoke in his bedroom, fie got up and went down stairs when he saw the dining-room was on lire. He at once gave the alarm and aroused all in the house. Before water or much aid could be obtained the lire had got a good hold of the building, and then there was no hope for the Oddfellows’ Hall, which was only separated from the house by al2 feet passage. There was time, however, to get a piano and musical instruments belonging to the Philharmonic Society, from the Hall before it caught fire, but nothing could save the builcb’ng, which was soon in flames. A crockery shop adjoining was also burnt, and a shed at the back before the lire was stopped. It was a beautiful night, with scarcely any wind blowing, or the destruction would have been heavier. The insurances as far as can be gathered are :—Murphy, on building, £4OO in the Union ; Oddfellows’ Hall, on building, £SOO in the South British, and £550 in Northern ; Turner, on building, £IOO in the New Zealand, and £IOO in the National. The water was very short.