BIG FIRE AT TAIHAPE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 31, 2 March 1909, Page 2

BIG FIRE AT TAIHAPE

1 i SHOPS DESTIiOYED. I'URE UXDEIII UONTIiOL. By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Last Night. A message from Taihapc states tliat a most destructive live occurred this evening. A whole block in Main street and Station street was totally destroyed. Thirteen business premises were gutted. The lire started in Whalar Bros.' hoot shop and spready rapidly right and left. Fortunately it was a calm night. The following premises were destroyed:—JMMierson (tailor), Nichol (jewelI ler), Finch (stationer, double-storey)-, I Labor Department, J. P. Aldridge (insurance agent)., Hautipo tea rooms, Whitcombe (dentist), Wong Kce (fruitI ercr), Jones (painter), Hodgson (pluinbI cr), riarncr (seed merchant). Not a stick of timber was left.

The police sergeant's residence and the shops opposite were only saved by strenuous exertion. The crowd worked willingly. The lire brigade was just proceeding by train to Auckland for the demonstration but remained behind. Their services were of little use. )i<> waTer'Ticing available. The insurances at present ascertained are:—Hodgson, £3OO in the Norwich Union; Whaler, £250. Australian Alliance: McPherson, £250, Australian Alliance; Nichols, £3OO, South British; Garner, stock C2OO and building (owned by Gibbons), £IOO,, both in Commercial Union; Whitcombe, stock £l5O, Commercial Union; Finch, £OOO on stoek. which'was valued at £ISOO, Sun; on personal effects, £SO in the New Zealand (the loss over that is estimated at tl50): Ellis and Darvill, who had the largest business place burned, arc insured in the Alliance, the amount not being known. The progress of the fire was eventually stopped by pulling down buildings adjoining the police station.