FIRES.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MOTUEKA. i J. H. RANKIN & CO.'s GRAIN & PRODUCE STORE DESTROYED. ABSENCE OF FIRE-FIGHTING PLANT. (From Our Own Correspondent.) MOTUEKA, This Day. A fire at Messrs Rankin & C'o.'s gnain and produce store started at 1 o'clock this morjiing was the barking a dog at the back of Mr Knapp'shouse, which is detached some lew feet from the buildings destroyed. Mr D. Kelly, who sleeps in a room close by. on getting up to quieten the dog. saw the fire, and gave the a larm_ It -was found that the fire had started in a room where paints, oils, and benzine were stored, and al-t-hough it -had not gained much of a hold, the assistance at hand in the absence 'of a properly equipped borough fire fighting' plant, wa.s insufficient to cope with' the flames. AN EXPLOSION. As soon as the oases • of benzine were enveloped there was a terrific explosion, -which aroused people far and -near from their slumbers. and many .were soon at the scene of destruction. The flames then steadily .-ravelled to the kerosene room, the egg-packing shed, van slved, a.nd t'lie 'arge grain store, land then took possession of C. Knapp's bicycle shop. PLENTY OF WATER. BUT ONLY BUCKETS AVAILABLE. There is a good supply of wa.ter a few feet underground, and the househould pumps were manned by men and women alike, and every available bucket and washing tub were brought into use. The good services rendered by the bucket brigade - -was simply marvellous. As stated above. Mrs Knapp's is but a few feet- away from the buildings destroyed, while Rankin and Co.'s nrge general store is separated only by a narrow right of and Brougham's boarding houee on the opposite side of the street were all in langer, but in spite of scorched faces h-e volunteers plied buckets full of vater incessantly, and after an hour's hard struggle it was to be seen ha.t any further spread of the fire -v:«s over. The wall of Mrs Knapp's 'louse repeatedly cought, but the v.illing .hands were not to be'denied, although .there is no doubt t'hf falvanised iron walls of the gram •tore kept tfc-e heat off to a great extent, and -the little wind ther«s 'sras was in a fortunate direction VALUE OF A BRICK WALL. The brick wall and iron roof of Rankin's large genera] store prevented the fire from gaining a hold then, but the windows were burned and water was aplied from the interior of the building: WET BLANKETS. Brougham's* boarding house was •aved by hanging out wet blankets and a copious suply of water in buckets full. THE ORIGIN A MYSTERY. It is not known how the fire start>d, as no -one was known to 'have 'oee n in the store since Saturday evening. It is only about five yearsince similar buildings were burned at the same site, when Rankins' general store and the Foresters' Hall went- at the same time. As on this occasion the alarm was given by a dog barking, but on the former occasion the animal was burn in the store. THE LOSS CONSIDERABLE. Unfortunately the stocks in all departments of the grain and produce stores were heavy, and although partly covered by insurance, Messrs Rankin and Co. are heavy losers. A lot of damage was also done to the stock of the general store, and a great quantity was hurriedly removed at the time when danger was feared. Both Ranlrins and Knapp's cycle shop, were insured for tart of their value. The stock and books from the latter premises were saved. Messrs Rankins List 1500 dozen eggs, which carried no insurance. The insurances are £IOO on Messrs Rankin's building and £IOO on the stock, in the New Zealand office (Messrs Buxton and Co., Ltd.). The insurance on Mr. Knapp's shop arid dwelling was £IOO, and on the tinsmith's shop £6O; both policies being in the New Zealand office.