SERIOUS FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 848, 24 March 1903, Page 4

SERIOUS FIRE.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Carterton, last night,

Ono of the most serious and destructive fires ever recorded at Carterton occurred at 4 o’clock this morning, when H. Caffs large and well-stocked saddlery shop, together with the Bank of New Zealand premises and the manager's residence, were destroyed. The outbreak, which had a strong hold when first discovered in Catt's shop, gradually made its way to tho back of the Bank of New Zealand, which, owing to tho limited and poor supply of water, was soon devoured by tho flames. G. A. Fairbrothor’s private residence, on the north side, caught several times, but the efforts of the fire brigade, assisted by a largo number of citizens, who formed themselves into a bucket brigade, resulted in the building being saved, though considerably damaged. W. Parker’s unoccupied shop, on the south side, was saved by strenuous exertions of the brigade and citizens. Moriarty’s large store, on the opposite side of the road, the saving of whose premises was absolutely the salvation of the principal part of the town, was considerably scorched, and the plate-glass windows cracked. Fenton’s boardinghouse was also badly scorched, and the office of the Registrar of Electors caught, but was extinguished. The orgin of the fire is a mystery. The water supply was most inadequate, and had it not been for tho absence of any wind, the biggest portion of the business premises would have been destroyed.

The insurances are as follows : Catt’s stock, £125 in the South British ; the building, owned by R, Armstrong, £125 in the Liverpool, Loudon and Globe ; Fail-brother’s house, £3OO in the Liverpool, London and Globe ; the furniture, £l5O in the National ; Bank of New Zealand, £3lO in the New Zealand office. Cormack’s furniture was insured, but the amount and office are unascortainable. In the eases where the places were saved the losses arc covered by insurance. H. Catt is a heavy loser. Tho fire brigade worked heroically, notwithstanding the disadvantages through inadequate water supply. Tho strong-room was broken open at midday, and though tho firo had got inside no serious de.msgo is expected.

The New Zealand Times says Tu view of the intention of the Government fo erect sterlising plants at Auckland and Invercargill, to treat imported hones, it is intended that future carcases, after the plants are ready for work, .shall be allowed to land only at those ports. .Such cargoes jt.s are pow on ttic wafer will be permitted fo be landed at their ports of destination ; but importation of bones' will then be prohibited until the sterlising plants are at work. Tho totalisation in so far as it tends to confine gambling to tho racecourse, is a reform that ought not to bo lightly esteemed ; and its abolition at the instance of those actuated by a Puritanical spirit would, in our opinion, lead to tho institution of a worse state of affairs.—Wellington Times.

The Opposition have themselves declared that borrowing cannot be stopped at present. The operations of the syndicate which has so cleverly effected a coup which must help to line tho pockets of its members are therefore interesting to us all, To treat what has happened as a kind of good joke, “ because it gravels Seddon,” is not only in the highest degree stupid, but is unpatriotic. Arguments designed to show that the colony ought not to borrow, for reasons assigned, but be treated with respect and dealt with fairly.

But those who do not take this stand, and yet at the same time rejoice at a blow aimed at the colony’s credit, by what is after all, if plain English be spoken, nothing better than scientific blackmailing, occupy a most unenviable position. It is the colony which suffers, not the Ministry. The latter do not under the circumstances lose even in prestige, for the simple reason that the colony has pretty well made up its mind why the loan was “ beared,” and knows that if another party had been in power similar tactics would have been carried out and would have been quite as successful,—Napier Telegraph,