Fatal Fire at Feilding.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7877, 20 July 1905, Page 2

Fatal Fire at Feilding.

AN HOTKL BURNED. HOUSEMAID LOSES HER. LIFE. (Per Press Association.) FEILDING, July 19. Another disastrous fire broke oui at 11.30 last night in Hastie's Funding Hotel. ou« oi the oldest buildings in town, containing some thirty rooms. Within a few minutes oi the alarm the whole building was enveloped in flames, which spread to the Assembly rooms, and the hotel sample rooms, all of which were totally destroyed. During the earlier part of the Arc a breeze was blowing, and the Post Office and business premises on the other side of the Kimbolton Roatl which is two chains across, were endangered. The Post Office caught once, also the. premises of A moor, painter, but the efforts of the bucket brigade and a change oi Wind prevented further damage in this direction. The attention of the brigade was centred on the stables and the numerous outbuildings of the hotel, which were eventually saved. A brick wall at the end of the sample rooms prevented the fire spreading further down the block, although lor some time it seemed impossible to check the fire. Fortunately the wind subsided and this assisted the efforts of the brigade, who stuck 'manfully lo their posts on the raof adjoining the building. The piano from the Assembly rooms was got out., but beyond a few small articles from the other buildings the fire ended in total destruction. The origin of the fire is unknown. Following so closely on the other fire, sonic alarm is felt amongst townspeople regarding the safety of their premises. A number of wires leading lo the Post Office were damaged, and telephonic communication in the town is somewhat disorganised. The charred remains of Nellie Curtaync, the housemaid at Hastie's Hotel, were found after a loim search, 5 Insurances: Phoenix, £I7OO on the' buildings and £1530 on contents • Alliance, £IBSO on the buildings; £>out-I» British, £500; Comnicrcia mon, £2OO on the furniture anil £ls Union, £2OO on the furniture and SloO on buildings. There was £IOO on the Assembly room fittings The buildings were owned by Mrs vT; I '!'' aml tilc 'aiidlord was Mr T Nicholas He had no insurance on bis oncels and estimates iris loss a between £2OOO and £3OOO.