FIRE IN MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10205, 5 April 1911, Page 5

FIRE IN MASTERTON.

1 NARROW ESCAPE OF MR W, ( SHAW'S PREMISL^

An alarm of fire was sounded on the Masterton fircbells about midnight last' night: Mr H. Person w»s proceeding to his work at the Post , Office, when he noticed smoke issuing from the rear of the premises in Queen Street occupied by Mr William Shaw, clothier, and owned byMr Walter Perry, of Cornwall Street. Mr Person very promptly informed Constable Ferguson, who was on, duty a few hundred yards further up the street. The two returned to the scene, when the smoke appeared to be issuing from a- chimney, but Constable Ferguson made certain it "was a fire by feeling the heat on a window at the back of the premises. The 'constable gave the alarm, and the Brigade turned out promptly, and* quickly had the flames under control, and they were confined to one room. There were.a number of cases containing boots and general clothing in the room-, and these were practically all destroyed by the fire. A large amount of other stock was partially destroyed by water. The stock was insured for £SOO in each of two different-offices, making in all £looo.' Mr Shaw values his stock at £I6OO. "The insurances on the building were not available.

The origin of the fife is a complete mystery. Mr Shaw stated that he left the shop at about 10.30 o'clock las* evening, when he tAirned oufthe lamp which was in the front part of the shop. He had not been near the back portion of the premises with a light that night. Judging by the appearances after the flames were extinguished, the fire must have originated inside the building.