GREAT FIRE AT OWHAROA. HOTEL, STORE, AND COTTAGE DESTROYED. Smile of Fortune Battery Damaged. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paeroa, January 13.
A riKE broke out at midnight last night in Walsh's hotel, Owharoa, and the whole township narrowly escaped destruction. Walsh's hotel, Hosie's general store, and Reids dwelling-house, together with stables and all outbuildings, have been completely destroyed. The fire started in the kitchen of Walsh's hotel, and the servants and boarders, who saved nothing but their sleeping garments, narrowly escaped being burnt to death. Nothing whatever has been saved, and as the proprietor and his faiiaily are absent on a visit to the Thames it is not knosvn whether the property was insured. Hosie's general store and contents were insured in the South British for the sum of £750. The fire there spread with such lightning rapidity that little or no property has been saved. The next place to go was Keid's dwelling-house, which was insured in the New Zealand Company's office for£3oo. It was occupied by Air G. Colebrook, who has lost all his furniture, which was not insured There was a strong breeze blowing from the eaetward, and it was at one time feared that the Smile of Fortune Co.'s battery plant was doomed to destruction. The roof of the battery hou^e caught fire several thin s, and but for tiie superhuman efforts of the miners the building would certainly have been consumed. Great credit is due to Mr W. Farmer, who aisked his life to check the progress of the devouring element on the roof of the battery. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire.
The insurances, as ascertained from the offices in Auckland, are : — Hosie's — £750 in the South British, £200 reinsured in the Mercantile and £150 in the Phoenix ; Reids —£300 in the New Zealand ; Walsh's hotel, stock, furniture, and fittings— l37s in the Victoria, £450 in the Norwich Union, £125 in the London and Lancashire.
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Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 137, 16 January 1886, Page 5
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324GREAT FIRE AT OWHAROA. HOTEL, STORE, AND COTTAGE DESTROYED. Smile of Fortune Battery Damaged. [BY TELEGRAPH.-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Paeroa, January 13. Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 137, 16 January 1886, Page 5
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