GREAT FIRE AT MASTERTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5406, 25 July 1878, Page 3

GREAT FIRE AT MASTERTON.

(From the Wairarapa RcyisleVt 23rd instant.) About 20 minutes to one this morning dense volumes of smoke were seen issuing from the roof of the premises in the occupation of the Wairarapa Rcyistcv by the night watchman, who instantly raised the alarm. Before any assistance could be rendered the whole of the upper part of the building was in flames. The fire then caught Wyllie and Girdlestorie's large store on the north side (although the latter was protected by galvanised iron walls) aud Williams, Cameron, and Co.’s saddlery premises on‘ the south. Attempts were immediately made to clear the goods out’of their establishments. By this time a numerous crowd had collected, though the fire had not been burning more than 10 or 12 minutes. AH the articles within reach in Williams, Cameron, and Co.’s shop were taken out and deposited at a safe distance on the other side of the way, the books and cash-box being also secured. A search was made for a box of deeds which were known to .bp on the premises; but by this time the heat was so unbearable as to compel all to desist in the search. In Wyllie and Girdlestone’s store the moveable goods bn the ground floor were taken out, but the upper floor, crowded with sacks of corn, &c., could not be touched, i During this time Sellar and Hales’ employes, assisted by a willing host of helpers, were busily engaged in removing their stores and valuables across the road into the premises opposite of Messrs. lorns and Fergusson. In a very short space of time the newspaper'office and Wyllie and Girdlestone’s stores, which two buildings were the centre of the block, were a charred heap of wood and iron, flanked by the premises on either side, which appeared like furnaces. Fortunately there was -very little wind, and just then the rain commenced to fall-very lightly. The fire ran along the verandah of Williams, Cameron, and Co.’s shop, soon setting : the whole-corner of Bannister-street in a blaze. This was a fearfully trying time for the Club Hotel, which building was only half a chain from the conflagration. Blankets were hung from the roof, a gang of men were continually flooding them with water, the heat and smoke being almost overpowering. Exactly, the same was taking place at : the chemist’s, shop on the other corner, which was only half a chain from.the burning premises of Sellar ‘and Hales. A ladder was,placed, against the verandah of the chemist shop, on which was another communicating with the roof, and there was a cordon of men stretching from the foot of the ladder' to . the Prince of Wales Hotel, and under the direction rof the proprietor, Mr. J. E. Thompson, buckets of water were kept continually supplied to those on the roof. The trying time for the workers at the Club and at the chemist’s shop was before the sides of the burning building fell in, the latter keeping up longer than the former. At one time the heat was so great that it was thought impossible to save this block, which was on the south side of the fire, and the chemist’s, sbop’was speedily emptied of its contents ; also from the adjoining store of T. B. Williams a large quantity of goods was taken, and when the side of the burning building fell-in the relief was as welcome as it was instantaneous. The fire was now under control, and the efforts of a large crowd were confined tto watching the gradual subsiding of the burning mass. A heavy rain by this time set in, making all safe. In two hours from the first alarm the block was a mass, of smouldering ruins. ; . The crowd extended from the Post Office to Caselberg’s stores. It was estimated that over 500 people were present. All present worked wonderfully well, and though there was no organised fire brigade, everything was done systematically. Hr. J. E. Thompson, of the Prince of Wales, was recognised as the proper man to give orders, and his instructions were clearly given, andimplicitly followed. Among’ others deserving of notice was Mr. Bish, a prominent figure on the top of the Club Hotel On the top of the, chemist’s shop was Mr. Girdlestone and Mr. T. Dixon. These three, and many others, were in the post of honor and danger, but it is impossible to do justice to all who by their exertions helped to stem the tide of conflagration. Late’ last night Mr. J. lorns left his cashbox, containing about £3OO in notes arid cheques, in Sellar and Hales’ store. Fortunately he recovered it again while the building was in flames, Mr. McCarthy, a storeman in Sellar and Hales’ employ, " took a header through a window in the adjoining store of Wyllie and Girdlestone, in the hope of being able to save bocks and papers, the premises being then locked up. ■ : : Messrs. Casselberg and Co. have elevated water tanks, with a considerable length of hose. This he at once caused to .be put to work, but in some way or other the machinery gob out of gear, and the supply previously stored by him became useless. A number of canvas buckets that he provided proved very serviceable. There was any amount of water from a running creek near the back of the fire; and the quantity that would have put the fire out was easily obtainable if means, iq the shape of an engine to elevate it to where the fire was first observed, had been at hand.