FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 95, 7 May 1900, Page 2

FIRES.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Ohristchubch, May 6. Two fires broke out almost simultaneously last night about eight o'clock. One was a couple of old houses in the outer area which had been on fire a week previously, and the other was an I eight-roomed house in Sydenham, owned and occupied by Mr. T. S. Asquith, printer of Truth. The house and furniture was totally destroyed, as, although the steam fire engines were soon on the spot, there was no water within half a mile. The house was insured for £350 in the Liverpool, London, and Globe, and the furniture in the National for £l5O.

Palmebston North, April 6. About 2.30 o'clock this morning a fire broke out in the Commercial Hotel, situated in the Square. Before the alarm was given the flames had obtained a firm hold, and when the brigade arrived the building was already doomed, All the inmates escaped in their night-dresses, the waitress, Miss McLeary, being slightly scorched about the face, arms, and body. Practically nothing was saved, but £4O, left in the safe by Mr. Roper, the landlord, was found intact this morning. The adjoining buildings, occupied by Melrose, commission agent, Pearce and Ravenhill, land agents, and the Standard office, were completely gutted, and Billens, photographer, suffered considerable damage through water. The insurances cannot yet be accurately ascertained. The brigade deserve great credit for stopping the fire so soon.

Invescabgill, May 6.

The insurances on Messrs, Thomson and Bridger's stock were £4750, building £IOOO. The salvago was small. Gray's stock was insured f ox £llOO, building £ISOO, The estimated loss is £2OOO,