DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81916, 15 January 1907, Page 2

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

WAITAUA I.LOCK SWKI'T. About -20 minutes past one oolock on Holiday morning Waitara townsfolk were alarmed by the ringing of Hie lireliell. Xhe (ire first showed it self in Mr Ogle's chemist's shop, ami was discovered by a young man named Te'far and (he n'ightwalchman at til" Masonic Hotel, tiie former having been awakened by the smell of buming which entered the open window of his bedroom. t'nlikc the (wo previous occasions on which serious lires have occurred in Waitara, there was a strong wind blowing at the time, aud it was soon seen there was no chance of saving the block. |!u< for a brick wall nothing eoithl have saved til.. Masonic Hotel, the onlv hotel remaining of (iie three which, served Waitara's needs up (o three months ago. As a result of the (ire. six shops were ileslroved, and the stocks in in..si, eases were al-.o lost. The bui'diug, belonged (o Mr A. "W. Ogle, creeled on a. Harbour Hoard leasehold, and were occupied as. foPlows: —\V Jury, bootmaker: Don (ice. fruiterer, etc.; W. Loncrgnn, tailor; S. Howe, tobacconist; A. W. Ogle, chemist; C. M. Towns.'nd, solicitor. Insurances are: A. W. Og'e. shop and stock, ' CC.'iO in the Alliance olliee. and C l.>fl in the Slale office on the other live shops destroyed; W. A. Jury, stock (mostly saved), .I'iH'l in the' Slate: Don (lee. stock, CI.">11 in the .Northern and Cloll in London, Liverpool a lie I- (Jlobe; W. CIOO in the Uoyal; S. Howe and Townsend, solicitor, uninsured.

'L'licrc li:ul Ijoon nobody in Mr Og'e's shop from Sal unlay night at chimin" time, anil 1 lie origin is wrapped in mystery. It is understood that there was a man sleeping on the premises at lion (lee's establishment. The populace is much exercised in mind concern ing the frequency of the (ires, which have always taken place between Sat' iirda.v night and an early hour on Monday, morning.