AT THE FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3759, 5 March 1907, Page 3

AT THE FIRE.

Hearing the clang of thevfirebc.il yesterday, about the time when the pangs of hunger torment the inner man, our representative jumped on his bike and followed in the wake of a burly constable to the scene of conflagration. Business people had left their premises and centred in the middle of the road. On sped the man in blue —on sped the pressman. Round the corner of Jupp’s mill they pulled up almost breathless, and accosted a man with a bleeding palm and a pale-faced quill driver. We were informed that the fire was defeated. Our representative meekly followed the burly policeman to the back of the cottage. Here we met a man with features like unto the grand old Duke of Wellington. He was questioned, and replied: ‘‘Give a man time, to think !’ ’ He looked very disconsolate —his best hat was a wreck, also his tailor-made suit which hung upon the wall, undbed clothes had been drenched' His bedroom had been flooded by the gallant. Juppite Volunteer Bucket Brigade! The constable drew forth a pocket book and solemnly made entries after making enquiries such as,. “ Who rang the bell ?” ‘ ‘ Who first saw the fire ?’ ’ and so on. After looking at the damage done our representative inspected, the sights. Near at hand was a corrugated iron shed, no windows, and corrugated iron door securely padlocked. ‘ ‘ Surely, ’ ’ ,soHliquised the pressman, “ this must be a meeting house for those peculiar people—the Masons —they have no windows in their mysterious houses.” Upon enquiry, however, he was informed that it was a‘ ‘ dead house ”or morgue. He with the lace like unto the immortal Duke of Wellington then broke forth and said there was no floor nor bench nor towels in this strange house, and a hen of his had desecrated the building by burrowing underneath, laying and hatching a brood of chicks. Then he started —'Supposing dead bodies were found and the building should be wanted—but —ugh —our representative trembled. Then the pressman saw another house, likewise of corrugated iron, and securely locked. He could not approach too near, being driven back by a disagreeable odour. This was the resting place of a carriage which only made its appearance in the stilly night. We were not aware until yesterday, that the people of the borough were in possession of such valuable assets. However, we commisserate with the loser of the hat and clothes and drenched bedding, and certainly think he should be pensioned by the Council for living in such a neighbourhood.