Great Fire at Carterton

Feilding Star, Volume IX, Issue 84, 14 February 1888, Page 2

Great Fire at Carterton

ABOUT £6000 WORTH OF PEO- - „, PEETY DESTROYED. (Post Correspondent.) Cabtertoij, February 13. At about one o'clock this morning a destructive fire broke oat in the vacant premises at the corner of Belvedere road and High street, lately occupied by Mr P. 8. Macdonald. The fire spread to the adjoining buildings, Mr F. H. Wood's auction mart and Mr T. Barnawfs 'recently - opened watchmaker's shop?, and proceeding on its course it caught Mr Lindop's chemist shop, and the Town Hall, the latter having a shingle roof, igniting at the same time. Mr Catt's tobacconist shop and bathrooms next to the hall/Bting the end of the block, were the last destroyed. The Marquis of Normanby Hotel, owing to the untiring efforts of the public, escaped. The hotel was several times alight, and it appeared at one time that human efforts would be of no avail. Fortunately there was little or no wind at the time, or the whole town must inevitably have been consumed. The Bank of New Zealand at the opposite corner to where the fire originated was scorched and the windows cracked. The Wairapara Observer office had a narrow escape. The shingle roof of Mr Moriarty's shop, facing the conflagration, was several times on fire, as were. also Mr Deller's outbuildings at the rear of his butcher's shop. The .origin of the fire is. at present unknown, but appearances lead ; to the suspicion of incendiarism. The value of the property destroyed is estimated at £6000. Some of the sufferers are left homeless. The insurances, so far as can at present be ascertained, amount to £2500.