MASTERTON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5407, 26 July 1878, Page 3

MASTERTON

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) July 24. I am now able to supplement the brief telegram I sent yon'in reference to tho fire here. It appears that the night watchman who is employed by the Council whilst on his rounds observed about half-past 32 what ho at first took to be a cloud, the night being very dark ; but on going nearer he saw it was smoke proceeding from the office of the Wairarapa Register. He at once gave tho alarm of fire, and several persons coming up, tho door was burst in, but by this time the whole place was in a blaze. A crowd very soon collected, and seeing the utter hopelessness of attempting to save the building or its contents, all efforts were directed to save the adjoining property. An entry was effected into the shop of Williams, Cameron, and - Co., saddlers, which was on the north-east side, and a quantity of saddlery aud harness was soon removed to a vacant space on the other, side of the street. A number of people went to the balcony of the Chib Hotel, and having procured ladders, got to the roof and protected it and the side walls with wet blankets and a liberal supply of water. The fire had soon seized upon Williams and Co.’s shop and Wyllio and Girdlestone’s auction mart on the south-west side of the Register office. The auction rooms have not been erected many months, and the building was one of the -largest in Masterton. In the upper storey was a large quantity of grain belonging to Mr. R„ Hare, Messrs. Chamberlain, and others. At the rear was the office containing the Masterton Building Society’s safe aud books, and Wyllio and Girdlestone’s books, safe, &c. AU the papers that could be got at were crammed into the safe just in time; for the fire travelled at a great rate through ibis building. In the meantime steps had been taken to remove as much of the stock as possible from Sellar and Hales’ store, which adjoined Wyllle and Girdlestone’s, and a lot of drapery, plated, and other goods, were removed in time. The five speedily took hold of the store, and great efforts were made to save Mason’s chemist’s shop, on the opposite side of William-street, and only about 33ffc. from the ’store. Wet blankets and counterpanes were suspended. from the roof down the walls, and copious streams of water poured down them. The men on the top of the building braved the intense heat, protecting themselves with wet sheets, but were several times almost driven off. However, they stuck to the work manfully, and were rewarded by seeing their efforts successful. The Club Hotel balcony caught fire once or twice, but was speedily extinguished, and its destruction prevented. On the opposite side of Bridge-street to the burning buildings, Caselberg and Co.’s tailor’s shop, Toms and Fergusson’s auction rooms, and Cullen’s baker’s shop were for some time in imminent danger, bub by a supply of water were saved. At the rear of the burning-block was a blacksmith’s ■ shop belonging to Vile and Co., and stables and store-rooms belonging to Sellar and Hales, which were only saved by strenuous exertions. It was extremely fortunate that there was no wind at the time ; and after the fire had been burning a while the rain began to fall, and soon came down in torrents. The premises belonging to Sellar and Hales, and Wyllio and Co. were provided-with iron walls and roofs, which kept the heat in considerably. Had it been timber wholly it is very doubtful if, with all the exertions made, the surrounding buildings could have been saved. As it is, the Club Hotel, Mason’s, lorns and Fergusson’s,- and Caselberg’s tailors’ shop, and the outbuildings, &c., behind the block destroyed, are all more ©r less damaged by fire, the sides of yie buildings exposed to the heat being severely scorched and blackened, and the windows broken. Some hundreds of pounds worth of damage is estimated to have been done to them. We may be devoutly thankful that the greater part of tho town was not destroyed, as both on the Club side and the chemist’s was an extensive block of valuable buildings. It was much to be regretted that the first arrivals at the fire did not rescue the books in the printing office, which could have been easily done by smashing in the windows. One of the two front offices in this building was occupied by J. Vile and Co. and the Clerk of the County Council as an office. The books of the firm were away, but not so fortunate was the Wairarapa East County Couccil, as the whole of their books, &c. t were destroyed. About % -o’clock all danger had passed for the time, and fortunately the rain confcinUcd,’wlthout any wind. Steps were taken to extinguish the smouldering fire later on in the morning, but it was impossible to put out the grain, which is still burning, although a good deal, very much damaged, was removed to-day by the owners. The plant of the newspaper office was totally destroyed. The damage is variously estimated, but it is somewhere about £14,000. One unfortunate part of tho fire was the loss, of a deed box belonging to his Worship the Mayor, containing some valuable deeds, which can only be replaced at considerable expense and trouble. Several explosions occurred in the Register office, and later oh in Sellar and Hales’ store, hut not very great. An inquest was heid before Dr. Spratt, jun., at tho Empire Hotel to-day, on the bodies of the two men who were drowned whilst attempting to cross the Ruamahunga River, about five miles from Masterton. It appeared by the evidence that five men who had been working in the Forty-Mile Bush were returning to Masterton, and had stopped at the camp •tq get driqks. Here one qf the deceased, Jbhn McGovern, got a bottle of brandy, bat it was afterwards taken by one of the other men. At tl;e river they were warned not to cross, as it was high, but they persisted, One of the men, named Williams, crossed safely’; another, named Goodman, lost his swag and swam back, the other three, W. Hawkins, Jno. McGovern, and M. Doherty, joined hands and went in. McGovern, who was in the centre, stumbled once or twice before entering, and when in, fell, dragging the others with him. Mr. John Dorsett, a settler living near, heard the alarm, and with great braverymshed in and rescued Doherty, who was insensible, but soon recovered. Mr. Dorsett then succeeded in getting the body of Hawkins, but with great difficulty and peril to himself. Ho was some time in tho water holding up tho body, ‘the banks being very high, and with the assistance of Williams, who fetched Mr. Dorsett’s horse, tried to get the b6dy on to the horse, but could not, aqd had to ride across,the river to get Mr. Day to come and help', when tho three succeeded in bringing it ashoro. The body of McGovern was not recovered until the next morning at 8.30. Mr. Dorsett states that he has known four people drowned there within tho last two years,and he considers that some oneshould be stationed there with a punt, as the river was very dangerous, and tho ford bad. The jury (fifteen), of whom Mr, Bell was the foreman, brought in a* verdict of accidental death, and added a rider that tho Government should take immediate steps to prevent similar catastrophes by stationing a ferryman i*t the fiver. The people in the have made strenuous efforts, tq induce the Government to bridge this river, as tho traffic to and fro is very considerable, and there have been numerous narrow escapes from drowning. There are two coaches running weekly between .Masterton and Palmerston, &c., by this route. At a meeting of the llorough Council to-day a veto was passed expressing sympathy with the sufferers by the late fire. It was also decided to make an effort to get the street running past the Club Hotel, known as Ban-nister-street, widened to onp it being only half & chain at present. It is feared that the expense will be tqb greis about 41f166‘i but it will certainly bo a great pity if the Council lets tho only opportunity it may over have of widening- the street slip away. The property holders interested aro willing to subscribe, towards and no doubt tho general public

and insurance companies would give something. It is curious that nothing was said of any attempt to widen the street past Mason’s chemist shop, which equally requires widening. The Council had an offer to widen Perrv-strcet to three-quarters of a . chain for £l5O, but considered that small amount too high. The question of a fire brigade, was mooted at the Council meeting to-day, and it was stated that provision had been made in the proposed loan for a water supply, and for assisting a fire.'brigade, bub tho Council considered that the residents should take the matter' in hand. .