MATAMATA CONFLAGRATION.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 121, 27 February 1919, Page 2

MATAMATA CONFLAGRATION.

Many Buildings Destroyed A fire of big dimensions occurred at Matamata yesterday morning, commencing at about 4.40, involving a six-roomed house occupied by Mr A. G. Yardley, the Matamata “Record” office, a shop occupied by Miss S. Storey (dressmaker and draper), Mr E. G. Clarke’s tailor’s shop, another occupied by Mr W. Gale as a salesroom and mechanical workshop, and a dental surgery conducted by Mr J. H. Hooper. The fire was first noticed by E. G. Clarke, who resides on his premises, but the alarm did not draw many residents for some minutes. When the cry of fire was raised the interior of the newspaper office was unapproachable owing to the dense smoke, and it was not long before it and Mr Clarke’s shop burst into flame. The house was the next to catch; then MiGale’s shop, and it appeared that the whole block must go. However, after removing the furniture from the house many helpers set about doing their best to save the adjoining premises occupied by Messrs W. A. Turkington & Co. (land agents), Mrs and Miss Darby (confectioners), and Mr R. A. Walton (storekeeper). For some time it seemed that no efforts would be of avail, but the wind shifted, and under able direction the flames were diverted by water and debris. Possibly the heaviest loser is Mr Gale, whose large stock of cycle accessories was destroyed. He had also under repair many cycles, phonographs, etc., and had money and all his mechanical tools on the premises. His loss was the more hard because of his not being insured and only having been in occupation but a few weeks. The house, newspaper office, Miss Storey’s, Mr Gale’s and Mr Plooper’s rooms were completely destroyed, there being lio possible chance of saving the buildings. The insurance on the latter were all in the State Fire office. It is estimated that the total loss exceeds £3OOO. Messrs Buchanan and Purnell, solicitors, of Thames and Matamata, who had but opened the latter branch a fortnight ago, also lost the whole of their office fittings, which were located in a temporary establishment This firm, with Mr Gale, was not covered by any insurance. The whole of the buildings destroyed were levelled to the ground in about an hour, and nothing could be done to save them. Certainly a great portion of Mr Gale’s stock could have been saved had not the majority of the men been engaged in preventing the fire catching Turkington and Co.’s office. »No praise would be too great to confer on those who worked there for the risk was great, only a few feet dividing it from the dental surgery.

The insurances were: On Mr Turkington’s building (office and confectioner’s shop, slightly damaged) Miss Darby’s stock of confectionery and fittings (damaged), adjoining Turkington’s office, £SO ; Mr Hooper’s surgery (Mr Turkington) £300; Mr Hooper’s stock and fittings, £IOO ; Mr Brindle’s shop (occupied by MiGale) £150; Mr Brindle’s three shops, occupied by Yardley & Co., Miss Storey and Mr Clarke, £336; Mr Brindlo's house, occupied by Mr A. Yardley, £400; Mr Yardley’s furniture (damaged) £IOO.