FIRE IN VICTORIA-STREET EAST.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 331, 5 January 1889, Page 3

FIRE IN VICTORIA-STREET EAST.

At 11. 10 last night a Hre broke out in the furniture shop of Koborfc Roth, situated at fche corner of Victoria-street East, and Ilighstreet. The shop contained a lar^e quantity of furniture, and part of the premises was used as a public baths. The lire was discovered by some men-o'-war sailor.s from the back windows of the Greyhound Hotel. They at once gave the alarm, burst in the door, and then proceeded to rescue the stock. The Fire Brigade arrived early, and prevented the fire from spreading to any of thr> adjoining buildings. Roth's premises were, however, completely gutted, and most of the concents, were destroyed. Mr Roth, who carried on business heie,is a single man. He slept on the premises, but took hi« meals at Park [louse. During yesteiday he was at bhe races, and returned at 7 p.m., when he went into the shop and bad a bath. After that he proceeded to Park House and had tea, and later on he went to a ball at St. Ueorge's Hall, Neu ton. When passing the shop on his way thither, he called in to get a pair of shoes, and had one gas. jet burning. The first he heard of the me was from his sister, who called for him with a cab ab 1 a.m. The tiuildinu destroyed was owned by Mr L. D. and insured for .-C'2oo in the Colonial oftice Roth, who was a weekly tenant, had his stock and fitting 6 ; insured for £500 in the Colonial office. A shop adjoining Roth's premises, occupied by Messrs Collis and Self, tailors, was slightly damaged. The origin of the fire is unknown.