FIRE AT MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3347, 29 October 1889, Page 2

FIRE AT MASTERTON.

At 20 minutes to twelve lust night, Mr J. Engel, of ihe Occidental Hotel, observed smok« and flame arising from the hack of a collide in Churchstreet, and immediately soiuded ihe alarm on ths Queen-street ureliell, which was, i-pspriniledj to liy the Beiulcy'M estate bell. Both Brigades turned oqt piompi|y,tind etesm was got up on the'Juhilee m six minutes. A difficulty arose over the water supply; The flood gates on the creek opposite the Municipal engine shed bad been left down securely at ten o'clock when the men left the station. hut Home well disposed citizen, thinkin" bo was doing the right thine pulled up the 'floodgates, and Jet all iho accumulated water escape. They were sppedily dosed again, but a delay, of two, .or. .three minutes ensued and tuiijuqlioli hoses of the kteamef drew nothing but thick muddy water for a time. The Volunteer Manual got into play and did good service in checking the Rt.reiid of the flames and when its efforts where shortly after supplemented by the Jubilee the confligration was snor, The "building was completely gutted. It consisted of six small tooms, two Btoreys, ai.d was until recently used as' a dwelling hoiiBo;" For' Rome, few weeks past the proniiw have been'uiied torbacklog

about a lou weight upou the. : [:«-uiiK« i » when the fire broke out., Tho premises were left apparently secure in tlm evening and no onu.stayed there at night. The origin of the fire is .unknown,' but from the inflammable nature of the material it might easily be ignited by a spark from a neighbuuiing chimney, The building was the pioperty of Mr F. Gray and insured iti the National offico , for £IOO. The contents. cousistiug of tow, hackling implements, &J., were Owned by Mr J. Ross and were not'covered hyinsuraucc. Fortunately thero waa but little wind at the time of the outbreak, and what thero was carried thy* flamesin a dircotiouawav from th< nearest building which was bub ten feet distant. ■