DISASTROUS FIRES.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 212, 20 November 1897, Page 2

DISASTROUS FIRES.

COLLING WOOD LIBRARY DESTROYBD. I (iJY XKLEaKAPII. —OWN CORRKSPONDEUT). Nixson, Last Night. Thk Colltngtt'oorl Institute and Library were destroyed by lire this morning, including a museum and one thousand books, some being valuable old ones, also the Foresters' ami Druids' records. Nothing was saved except the Foresters' safe. There was no insurance. The fire is a great loss to the community, as the building was the chief meeting place ill the district, and was a storage for old records. SIXTEEN HOUSES BURNT AT GORE. ESTIMATED LOSS, £15,000. INSURANCES, £BOOO. IXVKKCARUILL, Last Night. A disastrous fire occurred at Gore this morning. The conflagration broke out at two o'clock in Brewer and Tiembath s Horse Baziar. Kloven horses, and all the drags, coaches, buggies, saddles, etc , were destroyed. The Hames spread to the adjoining premises, and sixteen buildings were destroyed, namely:—J. Gibbs, watchmaker ; German Low, saddler; D. L. l'oppelwoll, fo'icitor ; Dalgetty3 and Co.; J. S. Naive, solicitor; James Blaikie, surveyor ; Aitkcu and Braad, saddlers ; John Jamie, watchmaker; D. B. Esther, chemist ; G. V, Frew and Co., ironmonger'*; Charles Stean, tobacconist ; G. D. Shaw, draper ; E. G. Greshani, dentist; a'so A. Fletcher's ollice and W. Lithmore's private residence. In nearly every case the entire stocks were destroyed, and it is estimated that the loss amounts to fully £15,000. The fact that a quantity of powder and other explosives were stored in Trew's establishment deterred people from risking their lives as an explosion was expected at any moment, and property which could otherwise have been saved was destroyed. The powder eventually went off with a loud reporo, but no one was injured. But for the splendid efforts of the brigade, the file would have spread to the other side of the street. Insurances amount to £BOOO. The New Zealand and Royal offices hold the principal risks, but the Victori.i and Commercial Union offices are also interested.