THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 533, 22 July 1869, Page 2

THE LATE DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT HOKITIKA.

A very lengthy and complete account of the late fire at Hokitika is given by the West Coast Times of Monday. As already stated in the telegram which we received, the fire seems to have originated in the premises belonging to Mr Levy, known as the Prince Alfred Oyster Saloon. It must have broken out some time before any alarm was given at all, and some considerable time must have elapsed before the fire-bell on the brigade tower was rung. The first one to notice the fire and give the alarm was Miss Edith Haunan, barmaid of the Southland Hotel. She states that she was too fatigued to sleep, and, while lying restless, half asleep and half awake, she heard, or fancied she heard, the sound of glass falling on her table. It was then half-past four o'clock. She sprang up and saw fire from Levy's chimney, coming up " like a furnace." Quick as thought she ran to her window and caught hold of the rope of the bell hung in front of the hotel, and thus gave the first alarm. The rope broke, and. she tied it together again. A-lmost at the same time Mrs Rouse noticed the fire from the opposite side of the street, woke her husband, the latter, in his turn, rousing Mr Culleu. of the Belfast store. Mr Cull en ran out in his night-dress aud took the rope, and continued ringing, while Councillor Cosgrave, Mr Mulligan, W. Evans, and others were equally active at the south end, hammering and beating at doors. Detective Brown was the first to ring the fire-boll. With very little delay the suction-hose was sunk into the recently-deepened well in Weld-street, and the engine was manned. But by this time the fire had spread on both sides, and was assuming terrible proportions. Part of the gear was run up the north end, and a splendid stream of water was obtained from the well, and directed on the flames at the south end, but with little effect. The fire spread rapidly on each side. Mr Ross's shop was the first to which it extended, and he had barely time to escape with his wife and family and an armful of clothing. Mr M'Govern, of the Rising Sun Hotel, was the next sufferer, and he was not even so fortunate, for his family had not eveu time to save their clothes. The heat was also fearful. On the opposite side of the street, sheets of glas3 crashed into a thousand of pieces. Blankets and rugs were put out, and many threw water up from the gutter against the sides of the scorching houses, whilst every now and then the branchmen turned their hose upon the fronts, and managed to keep the foe from crossing the street, or, at least, from getting a hold there. No

one thought they would succeed; frequently the verandahs took fire, and it was only by 'constant vigilance the spread in that direction was stopped. It took the premises and goods of Mr Meyerstein, the ironmonger, Mr Moss, the news agent, Mr Ramage, tailor, and Cavell, confectioner. In this direction, however, it was stopped by a one storey building occupied by Fraser, hair-dresser, being pulled down. In the other direction, the fire extended as far as the store of Mr Haworth, ironmonger. Very little was saved, and the master of ceremonies in the Casino only narrowly escaped with his life. The following is a list of the losses, as far as they had been ascertained : Mr Coswrave, draper, removal of portion of stock. Damage, nominal. Mr Salomon's, tobacconist; removal of stock, £SO. M'Kay, tent-maker: removal, £IOO. Mendelsson, tobacconist, removal. Solomon and Co. j removal £350. Falconer, hair-dresser ; loss £SO. The building (pulled down) belonged to Mr Morgan, and was worth £IOO. Cavil, confectioner; stack and premises, £SOO. Ramage, tailor ; stock destroyed, £IOO. The building belonged to Mr Hinchcliffe. Moss, bookseller ; stock and premises, £SOO Meyerstein, ironmonger; premises and stock, £2OOO. Rising Sun Hotel, Mr M'Govern. Stock, £2OO ; premises £IOOO. Ross, fruiterer—Premises, stock, furniture, and clothing, £6OO. Amongst the stock was a quantity of expensive seeds. It is also reported that Mr Ross has lost a cash-box containing sixty sovereigns. Levy's Oyster Saloon—Stock and fittings, £SO. Mr Levy reports that he has lost, besides, £3O. The value of the building may be set down at £IOO. Haig aud Jferkins, Photographers—Stock aud premises, £SOO. Hotel de France, and Southland Restaurant—These hotels were expensively fitted up. Mr Hansen loses about £IBOO. Casino de Vcuise. Mr R. Walker estimates his loss at £6OO. The value of the premises, which belong to Mr Cassius is set down at £2OOO. G-oldstono, clothier: Some of Mr Goldstone's goods were saved, but a very largo proportion was burnt. He estimates the amount lost on property, including cottage at the back, and stock, to be over £2OOO. Mr Webb, the fruiterer, who lost all, estimates h's loss at £-100. Oriental: The late tenant, Mr Luks, had a fortunate escape, having left the house only on Friday. Mr Cassius was owner of the property, which he valued at £IOOO. Amongst the property burned was a very valuable billiard table. The heaviest sufferer of all was Mr Johnstone, the ironmonger. His was large, £5,000. Mr Osborne, jeweller, saved his stock. Value, £IOO. Tillbroke and Iress, printers, £IOO. Mr Haworth, ironmonger, stock and premises, £IOOO. Mr Last, £SO. Premises valued at £IOO. Mr AVilliams, premises saved, estimated loss by removal of stock, breakage, &c, £SOO. On the opposite side of the street, Mr J. B. Clarke, and Hay and M'Kellar escaped with but nominal damage. The residents further down the street were not so fortunate. All suffered by tho removal of their goods, and damage by fire and water, aud scarcely a window was left whole from beginning to end. The amount of damage varied in amount from £lO to £2OO. None of the sufferers were insured. In fact there was not a penny insurance on the whole of tho property or stock destroyed.