FIRE IN MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2805, 24 January 1888, Page 3

FIRE IN MASTERTON.

'Narrow Escape of the Royal Hotel. • Shortly after ten o'clock on Sunday morning, and whilst a heavy gale of wind was blowing, the inhabitants of the town were startled by the alarm of fire. Glancing in the direction of Kurupuni, volumes of smoke could be seen passing across the' road, on the southern sideof Chamberlain's Bakery, which plainly indicated that the firo was something more serious than a blazing chimney. In a very short time two or three hundred people had assembled in Queen Street, and made for the scene of the fire, which turned

""outto bo on the premises of Mr D. ToohiU, of the Royal Hotel. The '» members of both the Volunteer and Municipal Brigades were to be seen hurrying towards their respective stations, and in an almost incredible short space of time the Volunteer eiimo put in its appearance, followed shPly afterwards by the steam fire engine, As usual the former were first to have the water laid on, but in •' justice to the latter team it is only fair to state that on this occasion they had their engine and appliances out of the station quite as punctually as the Volunteer Brigade, but owing to the excessive weight of the Jubilee, they could not get away until sufficient assistance had arrived to draw it. On arriving at the scene of the outbreak it was ascertained that the fire had first originated in a fowl house, which was some 80 or 40 feet to the rear of the hotel. The heavy westerly wind, which was blowing at the time, drove the flames from [the fowl house right through the windows of the pantry and storeroom into the hotel. Up to this time the lire had baffled the efforts of the willing hands who had worked so determinedly, but the timely arrival of the Volunteer engine prevented the wholesale destruction of the building. But for their prompt arrival there is »jMte slightest doubt but the whole oUci's large building would have been consumed. Owing to the carelessness of one of the members of the Municipal Brigade in throwing a heap of coals into the furnace of the Jubilee engine, the fire was completely extinguished just as steam had been got up, consequently their services were of little value. From Mr ToohiU we learn that the building, which belongs to the firm of Messrs Joseph Nathan & Co, of Wellington, was until quite recently insured for £ISOO, but that at the present time it was only insured for £BOO in the National. The stock and fixtures were insured by Mr ToohiU for £BOO. £4OO being in the New Zealand and £4OO in tho Liverpool London and Globe offices. Mr ToohiU estimates his own loss from damage at between £IOO and £l5O, the damage to thebuildiug being estimated at a like amount. The

storeroom and pantry are very much owed, the contents of both being destroyed. The dining-room passage and scullery were also very much damaged, owing to the flooring and partition being torn up to get at the fire, which had spread under the building, Amongst those who rendered valuable assistance prior to the arrival of the Brigades were Messrs Joseph lorns and Nightwatchman Braggins. Fire Inspector Gapper also deserves mention for the prompt manner in which he tore up the flooring in the dining room, and thus prevented a second outbreak of fire. The captains of both Brigades, Messrs Muir and Barker, are to be congratulated upon the discipline of their men, who, instead of showing the usual amount of ill feeling worked together splendidly. The origin of the outbreak is unknown, but it is surmised that the cause arose through a smoker going into the outhouse to light his pipe.