FIRE AT OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 273, 8 April 1911, Page 5

FIRE AT OPUNAKE

BUSINESS PREMISES DESTROYED. HEAVY DAMAGE CAUSED. (From Our Own Correspondent). Qpunake, Friday. A tire this morning destroyed Mrs. Pettigrew'a store, occupied by C. A. Henty, the Loan and Mercantile Agency Co.'s office and store, and Coghlan's (tailor). Henty's stable and a building at the back, Walloon's tinsmith's shop, were also totally, destroyed. There wis practically no salvage. Mrs. Stitt's premises had a narrow escape. FURTHER PARTICULARS. At about 12.30 on Thursday morning a disastrous fire occurred at Opunake. Mrs. Burton, who lives opposite, noticed flames arising from the back of Henty's shop. She at once aroused her husband, who gave the alarm. Very soon there was a large crowd of willing helpers on the spot, and bucket brigades were organised, water being obtained from neighboring wells and tanks; which fortunately the recent rain—it had rained earlier in the evening—had filled. It was soon seen, however, that Henty's shop was doomed, and accordingly steps were taken to remove the stock from the Loan and Merctantie building, in which there were large consignments of valuable grass seed. A considerable portion of this had been renowd from the building when the flames entered, and, driving the salvage party out. quickly devoured the rest. The stock- IHonging to Mr. Coghlan, tailor, who occupied a shop in the Loan and Mercantile building, was removed t» safety before the premises caught firs. There was a vacant space between this and the next building, which was occupied by Mrs. Stitt as a boot shop, and the efforts of the fire-fighters were concentrated on saving this. Wet blankets were kept on the windows, and were saturated with water. The walls being of galvanised iron materially assisted the workers. ;ind the spread of the flames in that direction was checked. Had that buildins; caught fire, the Opunake Times, Burton'* drapery and other buildings must have gone. A small building at the buck of Henty's, utilised by Mr. Wallnch. tinsmith, was also destroyed. Mr. Wallach lost all his tools. Some of the neighboring shopkeeDers removed their stock, but when the danger wns over, returned it to their shoos. The fire engine was not available at the time. Had it been, it is questionable if it would have enabled any of the buildings to be saved, because it would quickly have exhausted the water supply. The people of Opunake are again tfi«cussing the necessity for a water sunply that will be useful in case of fir> Tito cause of lie fire is unknown. No one bad been in Mr. Henfv's «°hor> during the evening, Mr. Henty himself being occupied at home with his books at the time. Henty's shop, owned bv Mrs. Pettigrew, was insured for £4OO, and his■ stock for £BOO. He is. however, a very heavy loser as his stock, which wns totnllv destroyed, wns valued at £lffoot or £I7OO. Mr. ,T. C. O'Rorke owned Loan and Mercantile building, and it insured for £4OO. The company'" insurance on the stock is unknown. They were just on the point of removing to premises of their own. a little further up the street. Mi. Wallach was uninsured.