FIRE AT MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3340, 21 October 1889, Page 2

FIRE AT MASTERTON.

Yesterday morning at about half paafc five o'clock, as Mr T. Tankersley and another man were riding into Masterton from the Upper Plain road, qii their way tp a shearing station, they observed flames issuing (rou) a dwelling house in Qhapol street, immediately at the back of Messrs Chamborlain Bros bakery. One rode on and alarmed the neighbora, whilst the other went and rang the firebell. The two brigades quickly responded, and, there being a good supply of water, the flames were confined to the building in which they originated. The lire had too great a hold on the building before it was discovered, to hope to save it, and it was entirely dtstroyed, together with its contents. At first it was feared the occupants had lost their Ijyes in the conflagration, and it was a great relief wlion it became known that there had been no q'ne iij the house for two or three days. T|e house was occupied by Mr P. Hunter pihjs family.;' As Mr Hunter was at work up country, b.js wife had gone with the' children to visit some friends in Carterton, and bad been away three days, Mr Hunter returned on Saturday aud wont to Carterton to join his family. He left the house and contents perfectly safe and he did not attempt to light a fire whilst he was there. There is strong rtason to suspect that the fire is the work of an .incendiary. The building was owned by Mr J. ty'allis and was a substantially built six roomed cottage, but it was onfy insured for £IOO and that was in thp office nf the New Zealand Insurance Company. Me Hunter lost the'whole of" Ijis furniture aii(j household requisites and liis wearing apparel, except the clothing his wife and ch/ldr/m went away in. Like the majority .of labouring men whose class of work compels tlieiii tp make frequent changes in their home, he had not a penny of insurance upon, his effects and groiit sympathy is felt for him, Mr Hunter js well-known throughout tbe district asTsplier, industrious settler, He is also a member of the Oddfellows Friondly Society,

Farm Cadets. New Plymouth, Monday... The farm cadets brought by Mr Courtney in the Ruapehu have all Veen 'placed in situations on better terjros than Wagreed to find them on f h'erois sti)lplenty of employment for mpro. oVtjo'jfafins and <tt J}as mills,