SERIOUS FIRE AT HAWERA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5118, 31 August 1895, Page 2

SERIOUS FIRE AT HAWERA.

FURTHER PARTICULARS,

By Telegraph.—Press Association, Wellington, Friday,

A message sent by way of Patea, says the fire occurred shortly after midnight, owing toan ill-fittinglamp [in Messrs C. Smith's falling. The I flames spread with great rapidity, helped by a north-west wind.

Seventeen buildings were completely destroyed. The Fire Brigades were quickly on tho scene, bet owing to the absence of water, were unable to check the fire.

LATER DETAILS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Haweka, Friday

Mr Campbell, manager for Mr C. Smith, and Mr Jewell, were stocktaking at the time, and immediately gare the alarm. This morning, the calcined remains of two bodies were found, and there is no doubt they are those of W, J. Caverhill and A. Tourner, who were inmates of the hotel.

Mr Caverhill was Secretary of tho Waitara Freezing Company, and was staying at Hawera for tho night en route io Wellington to attend the conference in reference to the frozen meat trade. He was a young man, and leaves his father and mother, sisters, brothers, and a wife and two children. Mr Tourner was middlo aged, a builder, and single. Both men wero much respected, and the tragic circumstances under which tliey met their death has caused a profound sensation. Many persons have suffered severe losses by the tire. The boarders in the hotels lost everything, and one or two barely escaped with their lives.

The insurances, so fnr as can bo ascertained, are as followEgmont Hotel, owned by Riddiford, occupied by >T. W, Kelly, £I7OO, London and Lancashire. Scott's shop, owned by Riddiford, £loo,lmperial. Samplorooni, owned by Riddiford, £SO, Norwich, Furniture and stock, Egmont Hotel, £1250, Plieonix. Scott's stocks, £250, Imperial; £250 United. Commercial Hotel, owned by Hutson, occupied by Hooper, £650, Phcenix ; £3OO, Norwich. Stock and furniture, Commercial Hotel, £450, Phamix. C, Smith, stock, £SOO, London, Liverpool and Globe. Innes & Co.,building, £2OO, Commercial; plant,stock, machinery, £IOOO, Now Zealand. Purser's stock, £SO, North German. Newsham's building, including Wilson's office and stock, £260, Phoenix. Parrington's building (including Simmonds' shop) and stock, £SO, Phconix; £l5O, North German. Lewin's building, owned by Caplen, £2OO, Phoenix. Kcn.p's building, owned by Riddiford, £l5O, Phoenix, no insurance on stocks. Faber, Simmonds, Kemp and Cummins, it is supposed have small insurances. Scott, bookseller, estimates his loss at over £SOO.

The llames are still visiblo, but there is no danger. A large tent has been erected on the site of tlio Egiriont Hotel, and a temporary structure on the site of the Commercial Hotol, and business is being continued,