FIRE IN QUEEN STREET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3082, 2 January 1909, Page 4

FIRE IN QUEEN STREET.

A TOBACCONISTS S,HOP GUTTED. At a quarter past two yesterday afternoon, whilst Sergeant Millar was passing Mr A. E. Williams' tobacconist shop in Queen street, Masterton, he noticed smoke issuing from the premises, and immediately sounded an alarm on the firebell. Members of the Municipal Fire Brigade turned out quicKly and in a remarkably short space of time extinguished the fire. ' The fire apparently started in the hairdressing saloon, and passed through a doorway into the shop. The saloon and appointments were badly damaged by fire, whilst the stock Suffered from smoke and water. The adjoining premises and stock of Messrs C. C. Aitken and J. Heyhoe escaped damage. The insurance on the building occupied by Mr A. E. Williams, 'which is owned by Mr T. G. Mason, is in the Royal Insurance Office for £4OO. So far as could be ascertained yesterday the insurances on Mr Willaims' property are as follow Saloon furniture and fittings £150; tools, etc., £so;|stock, £3OO. Mr Williams estimates his loss at about £4OO.

A word of praise is due to the Fire Brigade for the promptness with which the outbreak was suppressed. Save for the efficient work put in a serious conflagration was inevitable, as the block of buildings where the fire occurred are wooden, and have been erected for many years past.