DISASTROUS FIRE AT NEWCASTLE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9033, 21 January 1908, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE AT NEWCASTLE.

WHOLE BLOCK OF BUILDINGS i DAMAGED. VARIOUS SERVICES DISORGANISED. FOUR MEN INJURED. Received January 20', 3.34 p.m. NEWCASTLE, January 20. One of the most disastrous fires in the history of the town broke out this morning in Cohen and Co.'s laire warehouse situated in a block of business nremises bounded by Scott, Margaret, Hunter and Wolffe streets. The whole biock k was more or less damaged. The principal destruction was caused by falling walls. Cohen's premises wera completely gutted, and the other premises were severely damaged. Whortling's hotel, the School of Arts, Binsto's piano warehouse, the Kangaroo Coupon Company premises, Lasker Brothers' tailoring establishment, Neves' furniture warehouse, Steggas' draper's shop, and a number of others were slightly damaged. The fire had a good hold when discovered, and spread with great rapidity. The whole of the brigades in the district were engaged in fighting the flames, and their splendid efforts succeeded in preventing a more serious conflagration. The fire at 1.15 p.m. was well in hand. The debris blocked the tramway and main railway lines and disorganised the telephone system. Four men were injured by collaps- j irig walls. Rough estimates of the damage ] range as high as £200,000, which it is understood is largely covered by | insurance. ORIGIN OF FIRE A MYSTERY. | A POWDER MAGAZINE DESTROYED. FIREMAN NEARLY ELECTROCUTED. Received January 20, 10.20 p.m. NEWCASTLE, January 20. The origin of the fire at Cohen's is a mystery. The Jewish firm had closed their business since Friday evening, and their warehouse, a four-storeyed one, is the largest and best equipped and most heavilystocked in the State. The stock was valued at £IOO,OOO to £120,000.

At its height the fire was visible fjr a distance of 20 miles. The stock destroyed included a large quantity of cartridges stored in a magazine. When the flames reached the magazine the cartridges kept up a feu de joie for half-an-hour.

A fireman, named Rasmussen, came in contact with a live electric wire, and' was almost electrocuted. He was removed to the huspital in a serious condition.

Three men, named Dougherty, Kirchener and Crandle.were removing property from the School of Arts, when a large mass of Cohen's wall collapsed, imprisoning them. They were rescued in a quarter of an hour. They were much cut and bruised, and were taken to the hospital. Debr»s blocking the railway line prevented a train conveying miners to the Lambton B Pit, which is idle in consequence. The lines were cleared after some hours. BEITISH POLITICS. MID-DEVON BY-ELECTION. PRESS COMMENTS. "BITTER PILL FOR THE GOVERNMENT." Received January 20, 9.16 p.m. LONDON, January 20. The "Daily Mail" and "Express" attribute the defeat of Mr Buxton, the Liberal candidate, by Captain Bell (Unionist) at the Mid-Devon byelection as largely the result of the alarm felt at the Socialistic legislation. "The Times" says: "The MidDevon election svis a great surprise and a bitter pill for the Government; but the Unionists will not regain power until they compose their internal dissentions." The "Chronicle" describes the result of the election as ihe worst blow the Government has received, and says that it Is a great victory won fairly and squarely on tariff reform. The "Daily News" says: "It is a victory for Protection." The "Tribunal" states that the electors voted against freetrade, and this shows the necessity of incessant vigilance." The "Morning Post" says: "With unhesitating leadership and efficient local-.candidates no rural constituency could withstand tariff reform." (Captain Bell polled 5,19.1 votes, and Mv Buxton 4,6 9 2 votes.) Received January 20, 11.10 o.m. LONDON, January 20. The "Standard" says that the Mid Devon electors recognise that the Unionists now have a distinct programme and are loyal to Vr A. J. Balfour.