DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MASTERTON.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1573, 5 March 1879, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MASTERTON.

[Press Special Wire.] Wellington, March 4

Further particulars of Maaterton fire state that the fire is supposed to have originated in Dalrymple’s new offices. The following tradesmen had buildings burnt to the ground : Golder, watchmaker; Walton, seedsman ; Coppen, shoemaker ; Tozzi, fancy goods; Dalrymple, commission agent; McKenzie, blacksmith ; Hrown, storekeeper; Bank of Australasia ; Williams, saddler; Williams, tobacconist; Brown, engineer. From Dalpunple’s the fire spread to the -hop of Tozzi, tobacconist, thence to Coppen’s boot shop and the others, efforts were made to save the Bank of Australasia, but the fire had too much headway, and the fine new building was destroyed. The Club Hotel and a number of other places only escaped through the energetic efforts of volunteers. The post office and police station was in great danger at one time. There was a good supply of water, and the brigade worked well, but did not accomplish as much as they otherwise might, owing to the shortness of hose. The block destroyed had a frontage of over two hundred feet to Quin street. A great quantity of stock was saved, except at Brown’s, where the contents of the premises were nearly all destroyed. The buildings occupied by Parkes and Peterson, Watts, and R. and J. Brown are considerably scorched and have broken windows. The Club Ho el Cuker’s, and the police station are also all damaged. The telegraph wires were broken down for some distance. Mr Bagge, postmaster, rigged up a temporary apparatus, and got com munication partly restored. The Bank of Australasia was only occupied a few weeks. The books, gold and notes, with the furniture, were saved. The fire commenced two or three doors off, and gave time to empty the Bank. Nothb-g remains of the building, the value of which was about £2OOO. It was insured.