EXTENSIVE FIRE. TEN SHOPS BURNED DOWN AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 103, 23 May 1885, Page 3

EXTENSIVE FIRE. TEN SHOPS BURNED DOWN AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Plymouth, this day. The largest fire which has taken place here for years occurred shortly after one o'clock this morning in the block of buildings of which Courtneys Auction Mart formed the centre, and in the shop connected with which the fire is supposed to have commenced. When the alarm was given the fire had a good hold of the buildings, and Stohr's (jeweller), the two ompty shops on either side of him, Sole Brothers (butchers), New Zealand Clothing Factory, Mr Callaghan (grocer), and bakery soon followed, the fire being stopped at that end by the railway line separating it from Brasch and Co. 's fancy warehouse on the other Ride. Tho shops of Ford, draper, and Jackson and Lightband, shoemaker, soon followed. The backs of the houses in Broughamstreet, on the other side of the railway line, also at times caught fire, but the fire was extinguished. The Imperial Hotel was saved by great exertion on tho part of tho Fire Brigade. During the lire it was pouring with rain, so most of the goods that were saved, but not housed, were damaged. The wind was blowing a gale from the sea, which caused the fire to extend, notwithstanding the efforts of the Fire Brigade, and the supply of water being good. In addition to those mentioned before, the following buildings were burnt:— Mofiiin and Dingle's furniture warehouse, in Brougham-street, which caught fire from the back ; Owen and Graham's sample room at back of Ford's, Diapers ; Mrs Sarten's two storied house in Currie Lane ; Colson'a two cottages, Mrs Callaghans bakehouse and stables, and Courtneys Hall, which till lately was used by the Salvation Army as a meeting house.

The Insurances. The insurances, so far as can be gathered, are as follows r-Callaghan's-Building, £800 in Colonial ; stock, £500 New Zealand, £250 South British. Courtney's— Building, £500 in New Zealand, £400 in Union, £100 in South British ; Jackfon and Lightband's stock— £400 in New Zealand Fire Insurance Association, £100 in London, [and Lancashire £100 ; Ford, draper, about £1,400 in offices :iot namsd; Hulke (Ford's building), National, £500; Walker, Imperial Hotel, £1,000 in Norwich Union ; A very, tobacconist, £100 in Norwich Union; Stohr'e, £300 in London and Lancashire, £100 of which has been reinsured ; Harris Ford, saddler, £20C in South British on the stock which has been damaged. Moflin and Dingle were not insured. The total amount said to be insured is 610,000, while property worth £20,000 has been destroyed. j

••Now, Johnnie," said the teacher, "if your father borrows £100 and promises to pay £10 a week, how much will he owe in seven weeks?" "One hundred pounds," said Johnnie. " I'm afraid you don't know j your lesson very well, "remarked the teacher. ' •* I may not know my lesaon very well," Johnnie fruukly acknowledged, "but I know my father."