ASHBURTON FIRES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 53, 4 March 1925, Page 4

ASHBURTON FIRES.

BAPTIST CHURCH DESTROYED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ASHBURTON, this day. One of the largest fires in Ashburton for some years occurred at one o'clock this morning, the Baptist Tabernacle in Peter Street, a big wooden structure, being burnt to the ground.

The Fire Brigade had received a call to a fence fire in the same vicinity, and while proceeding thence, noticed flames issuing from the roof of the tabernacle. The fence fire at once became negligible, and the brigade altered its course to the tabernacle.

By the time the hose was run out, the ■brigade realised it was hopeless to try and save the building and turned its attention to saving the adjoining premises, which were in imminent dancer. The only portions of the tabernacle building left standing sre the walls of the class rooms attached to the main structure. Insurances on the building and contents are only £600 in the New Zealand office. The piano, the property of PEstor Matthews, wae insured "for ±40 in the same company. TLe church was erected in IS9G. The origin of thfc fire is unknown.