GREYTOWN.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3104, 29 January 1879, Page 2

GREYTOWN.

This day. Destructive Fire. A great fire here last night. It broke out suddenly through the roof of Steele's boarding-house, which was soon in a blaze, and spread rapidly to the office of P. J. Beetham, solicitor, on one side, and then to the stores of Caselberg and Co. on the other side; then to the Police Station and Court-house, which were completely levelled to the ground. The Post Office was the next building in the block, but through the untiring exertions of the inhabitants it was saved, though on fire two or three times, the side of the build ing being much blackened. The Postmaster, Mr Cowper, took the precaution to hare everything removed from the office, including the telegraph instruments, fixtures, books, and safe. The buildings on the opposite side of the street were much exposed and suffered considerably from the intense heat. Fortunately there was no wind, otherwise nothing could have saved the whole of the buildings from the Wesleyan Church to the Bank of .New Zealand. The inhabitants mustered in great force and worked most zealously to save property, buckets and tubs of water being passed from hand to hand from various wells. The telegraph lines were burned down, but as soon as the danger was over the telegraphist, Mr Cowper, and Mr Shaw, the telegraphist from Carterton, with a party of men restored communication quickly with Wellington by erecting a wire temporarily from the telegraph office, thus saving interruption to the ordinary work* ing of the lines north. The origin of the fire is at present unknown. The loss is estimated at £12,000; insurances not yet ascertained. Caselberg and Co. are heavy losers. This is the second time this firm has been burned out, only recently having lost their store at Masterton.

Later.—Further Particulars re Fire. Mr Caselberg's loss is estimated at about eight thousand pounds. A large amount of stock was saved, but greatly injured. The other premises destroyed— worth two thousand pounds—fall principally on Mrs Moles and the Government. Caselberg has secured Eeidley's store temporarily for business, opening their new stock from Masterton to-morrow. It is understood that Mr Caselberg and Mrs Moles were fully insured. The fire extinguisher used on Caselberg's was kept on the premises for contingencies Almost all the drapery in Caselberg's establishment was saved, but is very much damaged by removal. This is the third fire which has happened on the spot, the first being the Wairarapa Mercury plant and the second a store belonging to Mr Phillips. The following insurances are reported :—Caselberg, in New Zealand, stores, £500, stock, £1250; United, stock, £1500; National, stores, £SCO; Victoria, stock, £500; Imperial, stores, £250, stock, £250; South British, stock and stores, £250, stock £250; South British, stock £250.