DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT BULLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 20 March 1909, Page 3

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT BULLS.

HALF OF MAIN STREET

DESTROYED. INCLUDING POST OFFICE AND TOWN HALL* A message was received here yesterday morning that a very destructive fire had occurred at Bulls over a large area of the business portion of the town. The outbreak was discovered in W. B. Clarke’s store, next to the Post Office, just after midnight, by some residents who were going home from a social.

The flames had a strong hold and a south-easterly, half-gale with steady rain, was blowing. The residents of the town were soon roused, and all joined a bucket brigade. Everybody lent a hand to subdue the outbreak, which was soon recognised to be assuming serious proportions. There was plenty of water available. Despite the efforts of the workers the flames spread rapidly. The blacksmith’s shop owned by J. E. Walker, and occupied by H. Green, was soon in a blaze, and it was followed by Mr T. King’s office, which was also the office of the Rangitikei Dairy Company. F. J. Mansell’s ironmongery and crockery store rooms were next demolished, as well as the dwellings attached to the rear of these shops. The Post Office, a new brick building, came next. It was hoped that here the progress of the fire would be stopped, but the eaves, projecting three feet, were built of wood and the fierce heat could not be stayed. The whole interior of the building was burnt out, leaving the bare walls. The bucket brigade turned its efforts to the buildings across the street, towards which the wind was blowing. Gorton and Son’s and the Rangitikei Racing Club’s offices caught, but were extinguished by the bucket brigade. Efforts to save the Town Hall were unavailing, it being an old building. It was burnt to the ground. F. J. Mansell’s shop and dwelling adjoining, occupied respectively by G. Nicholson (bootmaker) and F. Paul, were burnt. The bucket brigade were successful in saving the tailor’s shop owned by j. Stevenson and occupied by D. Monks. The public library and Jones and McGregor’s store had a very narrow escape. Mansell and Son’s store at the south end of the street was also saved. If the fire had not been checked here the Rangitikei Hotel, Banks of New Zealand and New South Wales and buildings adjoining must have gone

The official records of the Post Office, the documents and letters were saved.

The stock of Clarke’s store, consisting of a new shipment of autumn and winter goods was burnt and the loss is heavy. Mansell and Son saved their stock, but it was damaged by rain and removal, the loss being estimated at Nicholson’s stock and equipments were saved. The building was insured for ,£165 in the Northern. Clark’s store was insured in the Victoria for and the stock in the same office for and £BOO in the South British. He is a heav y loser.

The blacksmith’s shop, owned byj. B. Walker, was insured for £125 in the National, T. King’s office for with the same company, the Town Hall for in the National, Mansell and Son’s bulk store room for ,£465 in the Northern.

Some smart work was done by the Bulls post and telegraph staff. By dint of hard work they managed to get a temporary office open at the usual hour yesterday morning, and were transacting business as usual. The town clock at the Post Office was destroyed, ft cost and was subscribed for by the re ■ sidents, assisted by a Government subsidy.

A SECOND OUTBREAK

Bulls, March 19

About 8 o’clock this morning an outbreak occurred in three different bedrooms of the Rangitikei Hotel at Bulls. Bedding and mattrasses were burnt, the loss being about ,£l5O. Bulls township, which of late years has presented a very quiet aspect, now looks a complete wreck. ' The new post office, which was a striking edifice for so small a town was the only up-to-date building along Main Street. Host of the buildings destroyed were fairly ancient and were lacking in architectural beauty.