FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2434, 25 October 1886, Page 2

FIRE.

O.ik of those mysterious fires which aro common among wooden buildings, occurred in Mastetton on SaWrday evening, destroying the residence of Mr T. Dixon, Worksop road, andatthesamctimooblitorating one of the mostanciontlandinarksof the district. Mr Dixon left tho placo apparently safe at half-past seven, (Mrs Dixon being away from Masterton for the benefit of her health), being very caroful in putting out tho fire, as no one was left in the house. On his return at half-past nine lie discovered that the upper part of the house was in flames, the fire having a very strong hold, so much bo that it was impossible to remove more than a few chairs and a portion of tho furniture in ono of tho lower front rooms boforo the flames had possession of the wholo of the building. The firo was seen from tho centre of tho town, and tho vigorous pealing of the fnebeli brought tho Volunteer and Municipal Brigades on the scene, but tho consumiug element had obtained such a mastery over tho structure that it was impossible, ovon with the good wator supply, to arrest its progress, and within an hour nothing was left but a few charred fltuda and the two chimney stacks. The original building was a two-storied ono, and was erected by the late Mr Diioi), sen. Thiß was shaken down by tho big sarthquakes, and ro-erected shortly after, though not on such an extoneivo scale, especially in height. It was known far and wido ua "Dixon's Accommodation House," and boing tho stopping place for the coaches was ths temporary abode of our pioneers and travellers, many of whom look back with pleasure at the happy tiraos spent under thy roof of this hospitable landlord, and aa he waa never known to turn any ono from his door unfed, many a swagger has had rcasou to add a blessing to the name of old Mr Dixon for his liberality. As this was tho first fire at which both of tho Fire Brigades have been engaged, the result was watched with gieat interest. Tho Volunteers arrived at the scene about five minutes in advance of tho Municipals, but owing to fencos and other impediments having to bo removed to got tho engines to the creek, they wero only able to boat their opponents by about a minute in getting tho water through' the branch, the appearance of which was tho signal for cheers among tho spectators, Both teams worked well,and wcrerowarded with three cheers from the crowd when tho pumping ceased. The origin of the' fire remains a mystory. About ten minutes before the flames broke out, some of the neighbors saw the chimney on fire, but whether this was owing to the firo inside the building, or confined to the chimney alone, can only bo surmised, but tho former ut tho most likely the right conclusion, as the firo had such a strong hold when Mr Dixon first saw it that it must have beon burning gomo time before it broke through tho roof. The building was insured in the Livorpool, London, and Globe Office for £4OO, and tho furniture waß insured, in the National .affiqe Mr A. G. Smith, who wan living with 'Mr Dixon lust, abqut 200 volumes of books and other ; .valuables, apmo of, which ho has collected during his travels ir different parts, of tho MM, and consequently cannot ..be replaced. Those were uninsured, ' ' '■;/