FIRE IN QUEEN ST.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1938, Page 6

FIRE IN QUEEN ST.

OLD MASTERTON BUILDING ESCAPES DESTRUCTION.

WASHHOUSE AND BEDROOM DAMAGED.

An old two-storied wooden building, standing on the corner of Queen and Smith streets, Masterton. was threatened by destruction by fire this morning, when an outbreak occurred in the washhouse. The brigade quickly extinguished the flames and the damage was confined to the rear portion of the ■building. The building is at least fifty years old.

Portion of the building is occupied as a dwelling by Mr and Mrs R. G. Thomson and portion as a shop and dwelling by Mr T. Verity. Mr Verity, engaged in the front of the building, was quite unaware that anything was amiss until he was informed that smoke was issuing from the rear of the building. He investigated and found that a fire had broken out in the washhouse adjoining his bedroom and was just breaking through into his premises. The brigade was immediately summoned, the call being received at 10.45 a.m. The smoke was first notice by Mr Wilmhurst, an employee of Green’s Service Station on the opposite side of the street.

The washhouse attached to Mr Thomson's portion of the building was gutted and one side of Mr Verity’s bedroom was somewhat damaged. The building is owned by Mr S. Kingdon, of Auckland, and formerly a resident of Masterton. It is understood that it is covered by insurance. Mr Verity has no insurance cover on his belongings and some bedding and other articles were partly destroyed by fire.

P. Eastwood, 5 Perry Street, is Chief Agent for General Accident and Fire Assurance Corporation, Ltd. (Inc. in Scotland). *