LOOKING BACK.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 272, 29 August 1933, Page 4

LOOKING BACK.

FIFTY YEARS SYNE. (From the “Guardian,” Aug. 29, 1883). WinsloAV School. —The regular monthly meeting of the Winslow School Committee Avas held in the schoolroom on Saturday, the members present being Messrs C. Margin. (chairman), W. Harris, E. Lovett, and P. Grace. A ’letter Avas read from the Board of Education informing the committee of the appointment ot Mr F. Batson to the mastership of the school. The Board also stated that a grant of. £lO Avould be aliOAved for . planting trees around the school grounds. The chairman reported that the master’s residence Avas finished. The chairman was authorised to attend to the matter of tree-planting. Gospel Temperance Mission.—At a meeting of the Gospel Temperance Mission held on Tuesday evening in the vestry of the Wesleyan Church, the report of the treasurer (Mr D. H. BroAvn) was read and adopted, showing that the sum of £ll 9s hall been receded and expended, all engagements being met. The thanks of the committee are given to all who,contributed-To such a success. During the mission 201 signed the pledge, and 397 donned the blue ribbon. The committee contemplated still further work, especially in the surrounding districts, as soon as advices have been received from the conference to be held in Christchurch this week. Water Races. —It is notified by the Ashburton County Council that water races F, B, and D with their branches Avill he shut off for a week from September 6, so that occupiers may clean out their respective lengths. These include such races on the AshburtonRakaia plains as were not closed previously.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO,

(From the “Gaurdian,” Aug. 29, 1908). Disastrous and Fatal Fire.—One of the most disastrous fires in the history of Ashburton occurred in Tancred Street shortly before 10 o’clock last night. The outbreak started in .the dental premises of Mr A. L. Zouch and it appears that the fire had got a A’ery strong hold tjetore it Avas noticed by the occupants of the house—Mr Zouch, Mrs Zoqch (his mother), a servant - girl, two male assistants and a little lad of about three years of age. It is difficult to state in what part of . the premises the fire actually started, as Doth the upper and lower storeys Avere, Avhen the fire Avas first discovered, completely enveloped in flames. The. upper part gf the premises Avas used as a residence and Mr Zouch, the servant girl and tAvo assistants barely escaped with their lives. Mr Wroughton, manager of the Union Bank of Australia opposite, brought a ladder so that they could get clown from the \*erandali. Mrs Zouch ivas found a few minutes after the alarm had been given, at the rear of the premises by Constables O’Grady and Donovan and the poor woman had evidently jumped from an upstairs Avindow on to a leanto and from there to the ground. Her body Avas superficially burnt from head to foot and! she ivas in fearful agony.; She died in hospital at 3.15 this morning. The fire brigadesmen soon arrived on the scene and both engines played a plentiful supply of water on the fire, but despite the efforts to con-* fine it, the flames broke into .Mr George Hefford’s drapery establishment on the one side and to Messrp, James Mellor’s and Messrs Tertis’ on the other. Mr Hefford’s establishment Avas completely demolished and a change in the Avind sa\ r ed the premises of Miss Robinson, fruiterer, Mr M. J. Burgess, bookseller and stationer, Mr T. Young, bootmaker, and the Bank of NeAV Zealand. The fir© burnt fiercely in Tancred Street and a good portion of Mr MeljOr’s boot stock was either destroyed or damaged. Messrs Terris Avill also b© considerable losers. At this time the premises of Mr Zouch had been totally destroyed and by a subsequent search instituted by . the police, the charred remains; of the little lad were found. Mr Hefford estimates his direct loss at £ISOO besides the building. Mr A. Whittaker was the first to notice the outbreak. Mr W. Mcßae, Avho was nearby, is of opinion, that the fire was due to an explosion of gas.