FIRES.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13378, 20 March 1909, Page 11

FIRES.

*» DISASTROUS OUTBREAK AT BULLS. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) MARTOX. March 19. There was a most disastrous fire at Bulls last night. The outbreak occurred in Mr W. B. Clark's 6tore, next to the Post Office. It had a strong hold before the alarm was given. A strong south-easterly was blowing, and a steady rain was fallin_ The fire spread quickly to the blacksmith's shop owned by Mr E. Walker, and occupied by Mr H. Green. Mr Thomas King's office and the Rangitikei Dairy Company's premises were demolished, and all efforts were futile to prevent the fire from spreading to Mr F. J. Mansell's ironmongery and crockery store, also to tho dwellings at the back of the premises. The heat was terrific. In the Post Office, a new brick building, the fire caught under the eaves, and the strenuous efforts to stay its progress were of no avail. The whole interior was burnt, and nothing was left but the walls. By this time the buildings on the opposite side of the street, the direction in which the wind was blowing, were in imminent danger. Messrs Gorton and Son's premises and the Rangitikei Racing Club's office caught, but tho fire was extinguished by a bucket brigade. Efforts were made to save the Town Hall, but it was burnt to the ground. The adjoining shop and dwelling, owned by Mr Mansell and occupied respectively by Mr G. Nicholson, bootmaker, and Mr F. Paul, were burned. A bucket brigade then turned their attention to saving the tailor's shop, owned by Mr John Stevenson and occupied by Mr Monks, on the north side of the Post Office. Fortunately their efforts wero rewarded and the building was saved, otherwise other buildings, including the Public Library and Messrs Jones and McGregor's store, must have gone. Messrs Mansell and Son's store at the south end of the 6treet also escaped. The store being detached from Mr Nicholson's, allowed room for tho public to exercise their energies. By systematic working tho firo was checked, and it was fortunate it stopped here, for the Rangitikei Hotel, the Banks of Now Zealand and New South Wales, and the buildings adjoining, would have been destroyed. The official records and Post Office documents and letters were saved. The stock of Clark's store, consisting of largo shipments of autumn and winter goods, was burnt, and tho loss is heavy. Messrs Mansell and Sons saved their stock, which was damaged by rain and the removal. It is estimated that £2000 worth of Mr Nicholson's stock and equipments were saved. The building was insured for £1650 in the Northern. Mr Clark's stock was insured in the Victoria for £500, and the stock in the same office for £1000, and £800 in the South British. The blacksmith's shop, owne_ by Mr Walker, was insured far £125 in the National. Mr King's office was insured for £135 in the same company, the Town Hall for £400 in the National, and Messrs Mansell and Son's bulk store room for £465 in tho Northern office.

About 8 o'clock tliis morning fresh outbrea.ks occurred in three different bedrooms of the Rangitikei Hotel. The bulk of the bedding and mattresses was burnt. The loss is estimated at about £150.