LATEST. TELEGRAMS-

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 302, 23 December 1907, Page 2

LATEST. TELEGRAMS-

BIG FIRE IN ASHBUH'AON m Per Press Association. Ashburton, Saturduy Night. The biggest iii-u experienced in Asliburton tor- aonic years past occurred lust night in a large wooden building, until recently ocmiw..: '•)■ the Salvation Army aa a barracks, bu„ ~,,<:■ '-n'verled into simps and occupied by 11u*... JJonn mid Bona, painters, and J. H. Scott and Co., cabinetmakers. The Are started in the lattcr's portion of the building, and hud a good hold when discovered nt 11.30 by the police. The building being old, its spread was very rapid, and soon it got into Donn's store, where it was fed by a large quantity of turpentine, white lead and paint. It raged very fiercely, and although the Are brigade made every effort, there was no possibility of saving the building, which was burnt to the ground with all tho stocks in trade. The flames At the same time invaded Henry Stephenson'! corrugated iron auction rooms immediately adjoining, and this was gutted to , such an extent that it will have to be rebuilt. Though most of the furniture and sale goods generally in it were saved, they were very considerably damaged. A cottage and office owned by H. McElrea, and occupied by Kerr Bros., coal merchants, on the other side were also gutted, while tho heat of the fire was so great that all the windows of. several premises on the other side of ths street were cracked, and had it not been for the United efforts of the brigade anl willing band of helpers, these premises' would also have been destroyed. As •It. is, the boarding house opposite was .•'Oiiriderably charred and damaged by water, and the volume of fire was »o great that a building a block away, with 3. shingle roof, was in danger front sparks, etc., for a time, The insurances and losses are—Down and Sons £7OO on the building, estimated value £1500; and £4OO on the stock in the North British, estimated as carrying £9oo;' ; Scott and Co., £2OO on stock, carrying £300; Henry Stepheneon, £250 on building, and £4O on furniture in the Norwich Union; H. McElrea £SO oncottage and offices in the London,' Liverpool and Globe, estimated value of houße £IOO.