A DISASTROUS FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1917, Page 5

A DISASTROUS FIRE.

OHAKUNE IX FLAMES. ' TWENTY SHOPS DESTEOYED. By Telegraph,—Press Association. } -, ~ Taihape, Nov. f.-l A disastrous fire occurred afc.Ohakune originating in the Defence Office at 12.30 this morning. Twenty shops and -their contents in the business centre of the town were completely destroyed. lit the absence of water and nre-%hting f«cjjities and a fire brigade the public -were helpless in stemming the flames. A sltfl breeze carried the Are till there '';**» nothing further to torn In its course. Nothing rcma i na but a fflaßg of charMd and smouldering wreckage. The insurances are not known, but the damage done will run well into fl« figures. The origin of the fire is- unknown. The buildings destroyed were: Lyttje, painter, shop and dwelling; Gould, solicitor; Goodman, confectioner, shop . and dwelling; Anderson, second-hand dealer, shop and dwelling; Forsyth, bookseller, shop and dwelling; three unoccupied shops; Mrs. Hook, confectioner, shop and dwelling; Butler, drapery and storeroom ; Ah Buck King, grocer, shop aftd dwelling; Coffey, billiard room ark! dwelling, hairdrossing saloon and tobacconist shop; Turner's shop; two empty sbjsps; Lee Chong, fruiterer; Kelly's shop ';. Defence office and gymnasium; Allen and Co., butchers; one empty shop; Cunningname, chemist. Butler's drapery shot was the host shop in the town. The Are set the bush alight and it is still burning. tr THE INSURANCES. * Taihape, Last Night. Half an hour after the alarm was ghren the Ohakuno streets were alive with people. A band of volunteer fire fighters was quickly organised, but thp. only water available being in a creek near bv, the flames leaped from building to -build* ind and high into the air, brilUan%<illuminating the surr)o'iuiding3iindScaj>eand I'lulangering buildings a distance.away. Had the wind changed, the whole- Settle-ment-would have been wiped out. After the fire had lapped up all the buildings in Hs course it reached over to the bush, which is still burning, but not menacingThe actual cause is not known. Insurances so far ns obtabjablej arejf'Lvttle £450 on building and £3oo'on the stock in the Liverpool, London and Globe office; Gould, £IOO on building, and £l5O on the furniture in the, Norwich Union. Forsyth, «50 in th<r<!nat<lkn~ and £2OO in the British Dominions on the stock and furniture. Mrs. Hodfc.XttoO on the stock in the Sun. Bntler, £350 on building and £20(10 on tho stock'in the Guardian. Ah Duck, King £3OO on the building and. £7OO on the-stock in (he Guardian. Coffey's billiard room and contents, £350 in the Guardian. Turner, £l3O in the Guardian. Cunningham, £4BO in the United. :- ■-'- ' ■* ."<"