DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WAITOA.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 130, 26 February 1887, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT WAITOA.

A MOST destructive fire took place at Waihou yesterday afternoon resulting' in the entire destruction o£ the " Te Arohu Hotel." The hotel was a two-storey building, containing about twelve 100ms. well furnished, formerly owned by Ait J. Moffatt, from whom the present proprietor j Mr Gabolinsoy, Into of Auckland, purchased. The fire was fiist discovered at j a few minutes to one o'clock, when smoke j was seen issuing from the kitchen, although it is stated the fires had been all out since about 9 a.m. Shortly after the alarm had been given, a number of neighbours quickly came to render assistauce, but in an almost incredible short space of time the whole building was enveloped in flames, and burnt to the ground within half an hour. Mr Gabolinscy had been at Te Aroha and arrived home within a few minutes of the fire breaking out. Mrs Gabolinscy was laid up with a broken leg, and with some difficulty rescued. Nothing of importance was saved ; the i heat from the flames, fanned by a strong | breeze, being intense. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is thought to have ! . been occasioned by a defect in the chimney causing some of the timbers to take" fire, which may hove smouldered for some ' time unobserved. , i Insurances. — The premises were insured for £1000 in the London and Lancashire office, divided as follows: On building, £600 ; fuiniture, £200 ; linen, etc., £50 ; stable, £50 ; stock, £100. Mr Gabolinscy states, notwithstanding the insurance, he ' will bo a very heavy loser.