BIG FIRE AT ASHBURTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9012, 23 December 1907, Page 5

BIG FIRE AT ASHBURTON.

SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. BY TELEGRAPH - PRESS ASSOCIATION. ASHBURTON, December 21. The biggest fire experienced in Ashburton for some years past occurred last night in a large wooden building until recently occupied by a the Salvation Army as a barracks, but now converted into shops and occupied by Robert Donn and Sons, painters, and J. H. Scott and Cc, cabinet-makers. The fire started in the latter's portion of the building, and had a good hold when discovered at 11.30 by the police. The building being old, the fire spread with rapidity, and soon got into Donn's store, where, fed by a large quantity of turpentine, white , lead and paint, it raged very fiercely, and although the fire brigade made every effort there was no possibility of saving the building, which was burnt to the ground with all stocks-in-trade. The flames at the same time invaded Henry Stephenson's 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 BroF., coal merchants, on the other side, were also gutted. The heat of the fire was so great that all the windows of saveral premises on the other side of the street were cracked, and had it not been for the united efforts of the brigade and a willing band of helpers these premises would also have been destroyed. As it was a boarding - house opposite was considerably charred and damaged by water, and the volume of fire was so great that a building a block away with a shingle roof was in danger from sparks, etc., for some time. The insurances and losses are: Donn and Sons £7OO on the building (estimated value £1,500}, and £4OO on'the stock in the North British (estimated carrying £9OO worth of stock.) Scott and Co., £2OO on stock (carrying £300). Henry Stephenson £2sil'on building, and £4O on furniture in Norwich Union. Henry McElrea £SO on the cottage and offices in London, Liverpool and Globe (estimated value jof house.£loo).