Fire at New Plymouth. New Plymouth, Last Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1422, 13 August 1881, Page 3

Fire at New Plymouth. New Plymouth, Last Night.

At three o'clook this morning Murphy's boarding house, alongside the Oddfellow's Hall, was discovered to be on fire by a a boarder, who was awakened by the smell of smoke in his bedroom. Me got up and went down stairs, when he saw the dining-room was on fire. He gave the alarm and roused all the House. Befoie water or much aid could be obtained, the fire had a good hold on the building, and then there was no hope for the Oddfellows' Hall, which was only sepaiated from the house by a 12ft. passage. There was time, however, to get the piano and musical instruments belonging to the Philharmonic Society from the hall before it caught fire, but nothing could save the building, which was soon in flames. A crockery shop adjoining was also burnt and a shed at the back. There the fire stopped. It was a beautiful night, with bcarcely any wind blowing, or the destruction might have been heavier. The following are the insurances :—: — Murphy's boarding-house : Union, £400 on the building ; Standard, £200 on the furniture. Oddfellows' Hall : National, £550 on the building, and £200 on the musical instruments (all saved) ; South British, £400 on the building, and £100 on the furniture. Turner's crockery shop : Northern, £1/50 on the building, and £100 on the stock (saved) ; New Zealand, £100 on the building. Drilber's shed : Standard, £100 (only partially damaged). The total insurance was £2250.