PALMERSTON NORTH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5343, 13 May 1878, Page 2

PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) May 9. As I wired you this morning, a fire broke out last night in the store o£ Mr. Henry Phillips, general storekeeper, iii the Square, soon after twelve o’clock last night. The fire brigade and others were soon on the spot, but without a fire-engine it was impossible to save the store or even the dwelling-house in the rear, which also belonged to Mr. Phillips. If the fire brigade had been provided with ah engine, not only the dwelling-house and its contents but also a good deal of the stock in the store could have been saved. The only thing that could be done was to save all the furniture from the house, and to prevent the fire spreading to the adjoining buildings. The store and stock were insured in the Victoria Insurance Company for £2OOO, but of this amount they have re-insured the greater part in other offices. The dwelling-house and furniture were insured in the South British Insurance Company for £SOO. The origin of the fire is not yet ascertained. . I would draw the attention of the insurance companies to the losses they are sustaining through their delay in sending up the promised fire-engine and fittings. ■■■■■; Those who admire novelties iu journalism should read the loader in our local journal of the Bth instant, in which the editor offers to make a bet of £5 with “a boy in swaddling clothes." As it is just possible that everyone does not read, the Manawatu Times, I had perhaps better explain that the “ boy in swaddling clothes " is the editor's epithet for myself, and . that the offers to take the enormous sum named above is his way of trying'to'persuade the 'public that the verses, called “ The Printer's Devil,” published by him as original, are'not a piracy. ■ ' i..,

Owing to a death in the family of one of the performers, the concert, in aid of the Sundayschool has; been postponed to Wednesday, the 15th instant.