FIRE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 8 February 1915, Page 2

FIRE.

THE OPUNAKE FIRE. ■ lleferriug to the destruction of the >tol and other buildings on Friday S.ght, the Daily News reports:—The i -st intimation that anything was uniss was received at about 9.45 p.ni., 'hen a native rushed into the bar ■id informed the licensee that the place was on fire, as ho had observed smoke issuing from upstairs. Mr Stohr and some friends immediately rushed upstairs, and noticed smoke coming from beneath the skirting hoards. They could not locate the seat of the fire, however, until they went downstairs into the kitchen, where it was discovered to be, in a cupboard alongside the kitchen, used for the storage of pots, etc. A bucket or two of water was procured by those present, and thrown on the Haines, which were apparently subdued, but they soon broke out again upstairs. Had a good supply of water been available there is every probability that a few buckets might have shopped the blaze in its early stages. Unfortunately, the hotel tanks had all run dry, and water has had to be carted from the river, a. galvanised iron tank on a spring trap; being utilised for the purpose. This contained a little wrffcer, which was soon used up. The well was some little distance away. The fire, fanned by the wind, rapidly gained headway, aiid in a short time the building, which was very old, and dry as tinder, was doomed. The fire, bell had rung, and this quickly caused a crowd to collect, the majority of the townspeople being at a bazaar in the Town Hall, Mrs Stohr, the wife of the licensee, being among the number. The crowd, though willing, was, in the absence of any water supply and adequate firefighting appliance, practically impotent-, hut worked heroically in salvaging the stock and saving the near-by buildings as they became endangered. Some of the stock from the bar, as well as a piano and some miscellaneous effects to the value of £ls were salvaged, hut it is alleged that a lot of the salvaged stock was stolen. The insurances, as far as could he ascertained on Saturday, are as follows: Hotel, owned by T. Knowles, :and occupied by E. B. Stohr, on the [building, £IB,OOO in the Guardian and £SOO in the Commercial Union; on the stock and furniture, £SOO in the Commercial Union. Stables, belonging to hotel, £3OO in the New Zealand Office.

I The building which was occupied by Messrs Judson and Aitken, as a smithy, was owned by Mr A. Standish, of New Plymouth. It is believed to have been uninsured. Mr Aitken had £-10 on his 'ools and stock, and Mr Judson £IOO on his tools and stock, both in the Royal. Little’s garage was insured for £loo. Mr Little was not covered by insurance, but fortunately his loss will bo slight.

It is stated that a few cases of salvaged benzine mysteriously disappeared.

FAMILY’S NARROW ESCAPE.

Per Press Association,

Feilding, February 8

A six-roomed cottage near Feilding, owned by Mr T. Anderson and occupied by Mr Edlin and family, was totally destroyed by fire early this morning. The family barely escaped, and nothing was saved. The house was insured for 1100 in the Commercial I’nion, and the furniture for £IOO, and piona £ ( JO,