FIRE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2996, 2 November 1882, Page 2

FIRE.

[Bv Telegraph.]

Invercargill, Nov. 2.

There’ was a narrow escape from a serious fire last night. About nine o’clock an upstairs bedroom in the Prince of Wales Hotel, a large wooden building in Dee street, was found to be on fire. The flames broke through the roof and wall, and it was thought impossible to save not only the hotel, but a long range of wooden buildings to the north. Fortunately there was a forcepump and hose in the house, and the night being very quiet, the fire was kept in check till the Brigade got the engines to work. The damage by fire was confined to the upper part of the house. The hack of the hotel being close to the theatre, where Si monsen was playing “ Boccacio ” to a crowded house, the fire made a complete spill of the audience. The damage is estimated at about £IOOO to the house and furniture, covered by insurance. The greater part of the hotel was covered by insurance. The greater part of the hotel was seriously damaged by water. There ate suspicious circumstances in connection with the fire. It began in the bedroom of McDonald, a lime mercant, who had not been in for hours. The fire began at the head of bis bed, and the wall there is entirely destroyed, and the roof lining burnt out of seven rooms. The offices involved are the New Zealand, Liverpool, London and Globe, National, Colonial, Victoria, and others unknown, for over £3500 on the hotel, stock and furniture.