Owhango Buildings Destroyed by Fire

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 821, 15 November 1929, Page 1

Owhango Buildings Destroyed by Fire

FAMILY’S ESCAPE EARLY MORNING OUTBREAK Special to TIIE SUN TAUMARUNTI. Today. Three buildings in the main stree of Owhango were totally destroyed b; tire at three o’clock this morning. When the northbound Limite< passed through the town at about 3.0' a.m. the buildings were blazing tiercel: j and it seemed that the wholi ; of the business area had been wipec out. The destroyed buildings were: The Commercial Hotel, of 18 rooms. Residence of six rooms occupied by Mr. A. Johnson. U noccupied shop and dwelling, owned by Mr. T. J. McKee. Mr. Johnston aud his family escaped in their night attire with only a few personal belongings. The flauia: spread so rapidly that there was no possible hope of saving anything. Fortunately the hotel was unoccu pied at the time, as it was being renovated. But for this the fire might hav*e become a tragedy as the building was a wooden one. The fire started in the rear of tho Commercial Hotel, but by the time the outbreak was discovered it had a big hold on the building. There was no water supply available and nothing could be done to stem the raging flames as they swept from building tc building. The house occupied by Mr. Johnson was owned by C. R. Holmes, of Auckland. The furniture was insured for i-150. The unoccupied shop and dwelling were insured for £l5O with the Guardian Office. Owhango is situated on the Main Trunk line, 10 miles south of Taumavunui.