Destruction of the Hamilton Billiard Room.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1746, 13 September 1883, Page 2

Destruction of the Hamilton Billiard Room.

Between 11 and 12 o'clock last night a fiie broke out in a lean-to adjoining the Hamilton billiard-room, Victoria-street, formerly known as Martin's store. The fire spread with such rapidity that it was impossible to save anything in the building, and the efforts of those who were attracted to the spot by the alai m were diiectcd to saving the adjoining buildings, which at one. time looked likely to fall a prey to the lavages of the fiie. Fortunately the wind was not high, otherwse it would have been impossible to say where the conflagration would ha\e ended. Luckily the staff of the Waikato Times were at work, and rendered all the assistance they could to stay the piogress of the fl.imes However, the fiie spread rapidly, ami fears weie at once apprehended that the buildings on the opposite side of the road, namely, the Hamilton Hotel and Mr Harper's premises, would have been saciificed Owing to the hour at which the fne broke out numbers of willing hands wcie soon on the spot, and parties were quickly oiganised to save the Union Bank of Australia on one side of the binning building, and Mr Harper's premises on the opposite side of the load. Thinks to the plentiful supply of water in the stables of the Hamilton Hotel, and the able pluck of those who constantly worked in drawing water, a good supply was available, and many thousands, of pounds worth of property was thus saved. At one time the fiie was within six feet of our punting office, and it looked as if the building was doomed. Owing to the lateness of the hour and tho excitement prevailing, we are uuable to give but a. Intof outline. This is the first time in Hamilton in which two fires have occurred within twenty-four hours, and the willing assistance of the people has been the moans of saving a large amount of valuable property from destruction. When we" went to press this morning (5 o'clock) the fire was still burning.