FIRE AT ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8097, 13 February 1892, Page 6

FIRE AT ASHBURTON.

At about twelve o'clock on Thursday night Constable Hunt discovered Mr Andrew Black's jewellers' shop in East street to be on fire, and when the door was broken open the interior of the front shop was seen to be a mass of flames. Messrs McKay, Salek, McGregor and Paget, were quickly on the spot, and with the constable they managed to get the fire under, but not before the counter-had been reduced to ashes and the whole of the interior of the room charred and blackened, a considerable quantity of jewellery being destroyed. TheFireßrigade were quickly on the spot, and the fire was •oon extinguished. The stock was insured in the North British office for £500.

The shop is the centre of the principal block of business premises in East street, and the adjoining premises would certainly have been destroyed if it had not been for the prompt action of the constable and those with him. . The fire started under the counter, at the far end of the shop, but its origin is a mystery. The premises are in charge of the police, and an enquiry into the cause of the fire will be made. Mr Black states that he was working and left the sbop about 11.30 p.m., carefully extinguishing all lights before leaving, and he cannot account for the fire.