FIRE AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 467, 30 April 1890, Page 2

FIRE AT TE AROHA.

On Saturday evening last abput halfpast five Te Arolia rosideatss were startled by the dread cry of ‘fire,’ and from all parts of the township a crowd quickly assembled at the scene of the confiagation. The fire broke out in a small two-roomed building fronting ‘Whitaker-street,; in the grounds of the Hot Springs Hotel (to which property it belongs), bilk fortunately at some considerable distance from the hotel, adjoining-the fence of-the Hot Springs Domain. The building was in the early days of the field the local post and telegraph office ; but has lately been fitted up.by Messrs Smith and Schmidt, as a factory for the manufacture of the Automatic Caudle Extinguisher, of which they are the proprietors. When the five waa first observed the flames were barsting out of the shingle roof, and it is believed the caase must have been a spark from the stove used for heating the soldering irons, etc., lodging in the ahiugles, and there smouldering for some time unobserved, as the factory was closed about 4 p.m. on the day in question. The flam.'B gained rapid hold, and although several willing helpers were speedily on the spot, it was at once seen the building could not be saved, and attention was therefore turned to saving the plant ; all the most valuable portion of which we are pleased to be able to report were got out in safety ; but some minor portions, some 6,900 or 7,900 half-made ixtinguisbvrs, and some stock were burnt, but the total loss on this head is only estimated at about LSO ; and Mr Berger, the inventor of the Extinguisher, and under whose supervision they are being manufactured, informs us he expects to be able to resume work again as usual in about a week, It was most fortunate there was but little wind at the time, and what there was blew in the direction of the Domain, otherwise the Hot Springs Hotel would have been in great danger, and had it caught fire it might have proved a difficult matter to repress it ; in fact the confiagation might have extended and proved much more serious. ,