FIRES IN ASHBURTON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 305, 30 December 1907, Page 2

FIRES IN ASHBURTON.

UXEASY FUELING AROUSED. Per Press Association. Ashburtoli, Last Night. Another disastrous lire occurred on Saturday niglit, when the 'drapery i/s----lalilishnK'iit ot Kobeu Alcorn w'as completely desfroyed. The building was an old wooden one of two storeys, situ tted ill 11a vclock street, and was soon a mass of ilames. The alarm was given about live minutes past ten. .Mr Alcorn hail locked up at !U5, and iilthoimi the brigade was early mi the scene and worked hard, they could do little to check the progress of the Ilames with their inadequate appliances—an engine which takes fifteen minutes to get "up steam, and an insullicient water supply. Fortunately the night was calm, with no wind blowing, otherwise a number of wooden buildings in the vicinity, including the. courthouse, might have' been destroyed- The destruction of tile building, which belongs to John liaker, and the stock was complete in less than an hour, so furiously did the tire burn. The brigade did good service in saving ail adjoining brick building, also owned by •lohn liaker, and occupied by F. Ferri-

mand, land and estate agent. Alcorn's drapery stock was insured for £ISOO in the standard office, and the loss is estimated at .tlOUl) over the insurance. The wooden building, whicll was completely destroyed, was insured in the South British for £3OO. To-day, at one o'clock, {Ho fire-bell again rang out. This time the lire was located in the Borough Council's implement shed, which is situated im(mediately at the rear of tile fire brigado station. Although the brigade was on the scene at once, the shed was completely destroyed, also three drays belonging to the Council- It is understood the shed and contents were insured, but the amount is not available. Thorp is ijo clue as to the origin of tiie fives, bfit there is an uneasy feePnp in the community, as during last moriOJ there have been seven fires. It maj also lie mentioned tliat a, scheme for t high-pressure water supply was at a poll taken on October 11 last.