DISASTROUS FIRE AT OHAKUNE.

Taihape Daily Times, 7 November 1917, Page 4

DISASTROUS FIRE AT OHAKUNE.

TWENTY BUILDINGS DESTROYED NARROW ESCAPE OF THE WHOLE TOWN. A most disastrous fire broke out at Ohakune this morning at about 12:30. by which the town had a narrow escr.pe of being totally destroyed. It appears that at the hour mentioned smoke and flames, were seen pouring from the Defence office, and an alarm was given, and soon the streets were alive with people. It was at once seen that all chances of coping with the outbreak, in view of the absence of water and fire fighting facilities, were hopeless. A band of volunteer firefighters was organised, but their efforts in staying the conflagration were futile, the only water available being a creek near by. Fanned by a stiff breeze the flames increased in volume, gradually spreading from one building to' another, and it was apparent that the whole block was deomed; all that the improvised brigade could do was to stand helplessly by and watch the flames pursue their unimpeded course, licking up building after another until the whole block of buildings was a mass of charred and burning ruin. No less than twenty buildings with all their contents were destroyed, very little, )f anything being saved. ■ The conflagration was an awe-inspiring sight, as the blazing buildings collapsed, sending up showers of sparks Into the blackness of the night. The scene this morning disclosed the extent of the ravages of the fire; what was once a k busy, thriving centre is now nothing more than a scene of ruin. It was fortunate, indeed, that there was no change of wind during the progress of the fire, otherwise the whole town would have, been obliterated. As it iSj . the„..damag'e uone 'will run intp The origin of the fire is unknown; the theory is advanced that : the-~fire;-3tarte(J; in: the gynmasism attached to the Defence Office, but the specific' cause of , the outbreak is a matter of conjecture. Following are the buildings destroyed: J. E. Lyttle, painter, shop and dwelling. A. W. Gould, solicitor office. Trocadero buildings. E. Goodman, fruit and confectionery shop ; and dwelling. ■ Neil Andersen, second-hand shop and dwelling., A. J. Forsyth, bookseller, shop and dwelling. :'>.•'> • i\avh Two small buildings adjoining,- formerly used as tea rooms. ,• Hi

One unoccupied > shop. •;., • Mrs. Hook,-, fruit and confectionery shop and. dwelling. ' ..;.. , _, ■ . • J. A. Butler, drapery and..storeroom Ah Duck King, grocer;, shop and dwelling.

The frame-work of a new building, at the rear, intended to be used as a cordial factory. ,jj M. Coffey, billiardroom and dwell-

ing. Hairdressing ; saloon, and. tobacconist shop. A. E. Turner's shop. Two empty shops. Lee Chong's fruit shop. T. H. Kiely's shop. Defence- office, and gymnasium at back. Allen and Go's butcher shop and office. One empty shop formerly occupied hy A. Billings. J. E. Cunninghame 's chemist shop. The shop of Mr J. A. Butler, draper, etc., was one of the best in the town, and the loss on this alone must be very considerable. The bush near the town also caught fire, and is still burning, but there is no imminent danger from this source. The insurances were not available when we went to press.