FIRE IN MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 29 March 1913, Page 5

FIRE IN MASTERTON.

A BIG CONFLAGRATION-. An alarm was sounded on the Masterton fire bell by Constable Brown shortly before one o'clock this morning. The Fire Brigade turned out promptly, and arriving on the scene, found the outbreak to be in the cordial factory of Mr. J. Gunn, Queen Street. The fire had a big hold when the brigade arrived, and although three leads were secured from Queen Street and 1 Chapel Street, the building was completely gutted, the blaze being fanned by a strong northerly wind. .The 'conflagration havting been got under, the attention of the brigade wa. s called to Watson's grain store, which adjoined. This .building caught alight on the roof, and got a considerable bold. It was with great difficulty that the brigade imanaged to get this'fresh outbreak under control, and only did so when conswterable damage was done to the stores inside the building. The cordial factory was the property of Mr. C. W. Brodie, of Wellington, the lease being, taken over hv Mr Gunu twelve months ago. The building and plant are insured for £2OO, and the stock for £3OO in the Australian Alliance Company. Mr Gunn estimates his loss at £IOO more than .the insurances.

Tliere is no accounting for the oufchreak. Mr. Gnnn -informed an Age representative that he ba-d visited J " building; at. seven o'clock on the previous evening, when lie fed the horse-s. He bad struck no matches, and could not account for the outhreak. The fire bad commenced in the we,st end of the building, where the engine, and plant were placed;. The building contained a large quantity of bottled waters ready for sending out. *f The loss on Messrs Watson and Co's. building wall not ascertainable when .wo went to press, but will be considerable. The Fire Brigade deserve a word of praise, as they bad to fight against a fire which' liad a .strong bold, and was considerably helped by,a strong wind. That Messrs. Watson "and Co's premises were saved at all, must be regarded as the result of smart work on"the part of the firemen, who, under Superintendent Jenkins, did ;.splendid wofk._.. . , : .".'

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