DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10282, 10 July 1911, Page 5

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

ON MASTERTON RACECOURSE. * SUPPOSED WORK OF INCENDIARY. A destructive fire occurred on the - Opaki racecourse of the Masterton Racing Club, at an early hour on Sunday 'morning, by -which practically' the whole of the appointments ■were reduced to aeh.es. The build-, ings destroyed were as follow:—-" Grandstand, totalisator house, booth, Stewards' room, ladies' cloak room, secretary's office, weighing room, jockey's room and loose boxes. The *• only appointments saved Avere the new stand at the northern end of the ground, and the judge's box. The fire was observed between one and two o'clock yesterday morning by Mr W. de B. Gompton, who was living in a whore on the estate of Messrs Welch Bros., adjacent to the ' racecourse. He noticed the reflection through the .window, and on - going out caw the buildings, in a - blaze, and (beyond all control. From an inspection of the scene of the fire on Sunday morning, the officials of the Club arrived at the .conclusion that the conflagration was caused by an incendiary. In support of this theory it may bo mentioned that a fir© had been started in the reiwaniing stand, which (had burnt a hole feet six inches in diameter through the flooring, and had considerably charred the -lining and scantling &■ above it. Mr Alex. Watson, who went to the <cour.se early yesterday morning to ■ work his horse, found to his surprise that all the buildings had been demolished, with the exception of the rfw stand and judge's box. On investigation he noticed that the door t>f the stand was open, and that ■: - J smoke was issuing (through it. Oh 'entering he found a fire smouldering, which ho immediately, put out. The 'door of the stand had evidently been forced open iby" means of a heavy piece of firewood, which was found on the step. The incendiary, to make certain, of a blaze, had taken; • the trouble to open the far window to create a .draught.. The buildings were insured in the V North British Office (Mr C. A. Tabu/teau, agent) for £I2OO. I- An enquiry into the cause of the r ; fire will probably be held.