GREAT FIRE AT MASTERTON.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1389, 29 July 1878, Page 3

GREAT FIRE AT MASTERTON.

[Prom the “ Wairarapa Register.”] Abut twenty minutes to one on Tuesday morning, dense columns of smoke were seen issuing from the roof of the premises in the occupation of tLj “ Wairarapa Register ” by the night watchman, who instantly raised the alarm. Before any assistance could be rendered the whole of the upper part of the building was in flames. The fire then caught Wyllie and Girdlestone’s large store on the north side (although the latter was protected by galvanised iron walls) and _ Williams, Cameron and Co.’s saddlery premises on the south. Attempts were immediately made to clear the goods out of their establishments. By this time a numerous crowd had collected, though the fire had not boon burning more than ten or twelve minutes. All the articles within reach in Williams, Cameron and Co.’s shop were taken out and deposited at a safe distance on the other side of the way, the books and cash-box being also secured. A search was made for a box of deeds which were known to be on the premises : but by this time the heat was so unbearable as to compel all to desist in the search. Tn Wyllie and Girdlestone’s store the movable goods on the ground floor were taken out, but the upper floor, crowded with sacks of corn, &c., could not be touched. During this time Sellar and Hales’ employes, assisted by a willing host of helpers, were busily engaged in removing their stores and valuables across the road into the premises opposite of Messrs lorns and Fergusson. In a very short space of time the newspaper office and Wyllie and Girdlestone’s stores, which two buildings were the centre of the block, wore a charred heap of wood and iron, flanked by the premises on either side, which appeared like furnaces. Fortunately there was very little wind, and just then the rain commenced to fall very lightly. The fire ran along the verandah of Williams, Cameron, and Co.’s shop, soon setting the whole corner of Bannister street in a blaze. This was a fearfully trying time for the Chib Hotel, which building was only half a chain from the conflagration. Blankets were hung from the roof, a gang of men were continually flooding them with water, the heat and smoke being almost overpowering. Exactly the same was taking place at the chemist’s shop on the other corner, which was only half a chain from the burning premises of Spllar and Hales. A ladder was placed against the verandah of the chemist’s shop, on which was another communicating with the roof, and there was a cordon of men stretching from the foot of the ladder to the Prince of Wales Hotel, and under the direction of the proprietor, Mr J. E. Thompson, buckets of water were kept continually supplied to those on the roof. The trying time for the workers at the Club and at the chemist’s shop was before the sides of the burning building fell in, the latter keeping up longer than the former. At one time the heat was so great that it was thought impossible to save this block, which was on the south side of the fire, and the chemist’s shop was speedily emptied of its contents ; also from the adjoining store of T. B. Williams a large quantity of goods was taken, and when the side of the burning building fell in the relief was as welcome as it was instantaneous. The fire was now under control, and the efforts of a large crowd wore confined to watching the gradual subsiding of the burning mass. A heavy rain by this time set in, making all safe. In two hours from the first alarm the block was a mass of smouldering ruins.