Fire in Manchester Street.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 146, 19 December 1896, Page 2

Fire in Manchester Street.

Shortly after 10 o'clock last night tbe alarm of fire was given, when it was found that the premises in Manchester street occupied by Mr E. J. Tozer, painter aud house decorator j aud owned by MrW. W Corpe, of Makino, were on fire. However, as it was so early in the evening, the fire was discovered in its incipient stage, and the numbers of willing hands who were quickly on the sceae very soon removed, a\\ dagger. The fire was located in a cupboard under the stair case, where provisions and a few small bundles of " patches" were kept, being situated about in tbo middle of tbe building, and tbe cause is a mystery, i'he fira was first noticed by Mrs R. Heald, who was passing, and who drew the attention of a number of other persons who were standing opposite, wondering where tbe smoke was coming from. They, on looking through the front door, could see the iiames in tbe staircase. The door nearest the fire was burst open and a tub of water was thrown over tbe flames, suppressing them effectually. Mr Baker and Mr F. Worsfold, who by this time appeared, broke the boards off tbe stair to enable water being thrown on the seat of the fare. By thi§ time numbers of persons bad arrived and" the fire was quickly extinguished. Several members of the Fire Brigade, under Lieut. Parker, dragged the engine out to the Makino stream and soon had the hose ran out ready to assist, but; it was suppressed without the assistance of the engine. There was no very serious damage done. Mr Tozer'a stock and furniture are insored 1 for J22§Q in the Ma'tipna'l Qffic?, for which Mr A. E. tyatjirj js tbe ioc&f agent, while the building in inauretf. id' the fhqeoix offjee, Mr Sherwill being the local agent, for £300.