GREAT FIRE IN HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 532, 20 July 1869, Page 2

GREAT FIRE IN HOKITIKA.

SERIOUS LOSS OP PROPERTY. NINETEEN BUILDINQS DESTROYED. ESTIMATED LOSS, £30,000. THREE PERSONS INJURED. (5T ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) (FROM OUR OWX CORRESPONDEST.) Hokitika, Sunday, July 18. A great fire occurred to-day in Revell-street North. It was first discovered at five o'clock in the morning. Seventeen houses were burnt, and two were pulled down, to prevent the spread of the fire. The fire broke out in Levy's oystersaloon, and before it was extinguished it consumed the following hotels and stores :—The Casino, the Rising Sun. the shops of Meyerstein, ironmonger, Moss, stationer, Ramage, tailor, Cavil, confectioner, Hansen's Southland Hotel, the shops of Ross, fruiterer, Groldstone, clothier, "Webb, fruiterer,

the Oriental Hotel, the shops of Johnstone, ironmonger, Osborne, watchmaker, Heyworth, ironmonger, Tilbrook, printer, and Last, dentist. The loss sustained is estimated at £30,000. Immense damage was done, both north and south of the actual scene of the fire, and on the opposite side of the street, by the removal of the stock in other premises. The Fire Brigade acted splendidly on the occasion. Fortunately the wind was light, and it chopped round to a direction favorable to the fire being subdued at both ends. At present the cause of the fire is unknown, but it is believed to have arisen in a foul chimney. Mr Cassius is a heavy loser by the fire, having had property on the spot to the value of £3OOO, and uninsured. The fire is now (5.20 p.m.) all extinguished. It burnt fiercely for two hours. An inquiry will be held immediately. Happily, no lives were lost, but three persons were injured by the fall of a house. One of the three, Mr Gawne, grocer, was seriously injured, but is now out of danger.