BLAZE AT ASHBURTON.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2282, 29 August 1908, Page 2

BLAZE AT ASHBURTON.

A DISASTROUS FIRE. TWO LIYES LOST. [Press Association.] ASHBURTON, August 28. One of the most disastrous fires in the history of the town occurred at 10 o’clock la6t night. Besides destroying tlie main portion of one of the principal brick business blocks, it was responsible for tho loss of two lives.

The fire broke out in the two-storey premises occupied by Mr A. L. Zouch, dentist, and, after utterly destroying it, spread to the adjoining shops on either side, some of which were gutted. Mr. Zouch and two assistants, and a servant girl escaped safely, but Mrs. Zouch, mother of the occupier of the shop, who, batliing at the time, evidently jumped from an upstairs window at the back, after being fearfull v burned. She was taken to the hospital, and expired as the results of burns and shook at 3.15 a.m. A boy, three years old, son of Mr Zouch, was asleep upstairs, and was burned to death, his charred remains being discovered after the fire was subdued. G. Hefford and C-o.’s drapery establishment, at the corner of East Street, was-next- attacked, and was completely demolished, nothing being saved. Jas. Mellor’s boot shop, on the other side of Zouch’s, and the adjoining painters’ shop of A. and It. Terris, were both badly damaged, the stock being destroyed as much by water as by fire. The efforts of the brigade and a brick parti-wall staved the progross of tho fire in East'Street, and the shops of Robinson, fruiterer, Burgoss, stationery, and Young, bootmaker, wore damaged only by water. Mr. Hefford will be a heavy loser over and above insurance, ho having just J ll , worth of spring goods. All the premises are owned by Mrs. Coleman, m the estate of the late La-t, Coleman, and insured for £3075 in the Phoenix. Hefford’s stock was insured for £2700, the Phoenix office liaving £IOOO, Royal £6OO, North British £ooo, and Sun £6OO. Terris had a. policy of £7OO in the Liverpool London and Globe, and Young had a policy of £4OO in tlie North British and Alliance, while Zouch’s stock, furniture, and dental instruments were insured in one policy in the Yorkshire for £450 ] jYlellor was also insured for £4OO in the New Zealand office.

At an inquest on the bodies of Mary Dove Zouch, aged 49 years, and Arthur 1 etrie Pilbrow, the illegitimate soil of A. L. Zouch, aged 3 years, who lost their lives through the fire', formal evidence of identification of the bodies was only taken, and the inquest was adjourned for a week. The total insurances on the buildinoand stock, etc., affected bv tho fire aggregate £9075. lb ere is no clue to the origin of the tiro, though it is generally surmised, irom its sudden -and otherwise unexplainable outbreak, that it was due to an escape of gas. airs. Zouch was the wife of Mr. W. H. Zouch, inspector of the Society for the Prevent lo ,, of Cruelty to Animals in Christchurch.

It is understood that the premises will be rebuilt at once, Mr. Hefford having a six years’ lease to run. Hie loss of life has created a great consternation hero, and Mr \ L ■ if aS roce i'; e<l numerous 'tcle°i f Syln J«tli-'\ The deceased ■ , at * complained of indisposition £ 10 0 l .t-° the fire, and her son had, ° P-m.- requested a doctor to see her. At-10.5 p.m. the fire was clis_ covered. It ]s m-esumed she would na\e. had time to escape unharmed if S -h 4l “ not attempted to rescue the