CONFLAGRATION AT OHAKUNE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 19 November 1915, Page 4

CONFLAGRATION AT OHAKUNE.

SASH AND DOOR FACTORY. HEALD’S PICTURE THEATRE. COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE FIRE A MYSTERY. HEALD-S HAD (NO INSURANCE. Consternation ran high in Ohakune ■when it became known that Healths Picture Theatre was on fire at about 2 o’clock yesterday morning, and a large crowd soon gathered. The fire engine was brought along, but with such a breeze it was almost altogether useless. The fire soon had complete hold of the theatre, and from that building it was fanned on to the Sash and Door Factory at the rear. Everyone present seemed to be willing to help, but the fire raged with such fury that no assistance -was possible and the whole of the two structures together with their entire contents, were completely destroyed. Pictures had been shown in the theatre the previous evening and the usual precautions were taken to see that everything was safe. A resident passed the building at 1 a.m., and he says there was no sign of fire at that hour; it was only an hour afterwards that the alarm was given. The "whole of Mr Heald’s picture screening plant was lost, including the cinematograph and the whole of the electrical plant, amd even the piano could not be saved. The loss in tl}e sash and door factory was just as complete as in the hall. None of the property was insured and Heald’s loss is believed to be little short of £2,000.