THE MASTERTON FIRE.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 360, 5 March 1879, Page 3

THE MASTERTON FIRE.

The Wafrarapa Daily, with an account of the great fire at Masterton, is to hind, but contains little beyond the very full details published by us yesterday. The Daily states that the brigade, under circumstances of some discouragement, worked remarkably well. The supply of water from the creek at the rear of the Club Hotel was ample, but the engine power was unfortunately defective, and among the onlookers a certain amount of apathy appeared to exist, considerable difficulty being experienced in inducing volunteers to lend assistance at the pump*. Although the men were under fairly good control, it is not improbable that under better organisation and with more efficient power a considerable portion of the property might have been saved. A second engine seems to be urgently required, and in view of the present casualty, will, it must be hoped, be immediately forthcoming, alight acts of interference with the Brigade Are to be deprecated. One or two person* gave orders for the cutting of the telegraph wires, which they had no authority to do, and their destruction was considered altogether uncalled for. iho block destroyed extended from Mr. J. Williams' corner shop, opposite the Club Hot*l, to Mr. Golder's, adjoining the Government acre, on which the Post Office and Court buildings stand, find has a frontago of about 200 ft to Queen-street. The total loss in buildirgg may be estimated at £3570, and probably £1000 will cover tho furniture and stock destroyed. Some attempts at pilfering were dotected by Constablo Scale and promptly checked, a number of special constables being flworn in on tlie occasion to assist him in preserving the property from depredation. Our contemporary adds that much sympathy is felt with Mr. Carr, the Master ton agent of tho Bank of Australasia, who has but recently arrived in the borough. Mr. Carr was one of the first to set to work at the hose when the alarm was given, and did his best to help his neighbors till his own building was in danger, when, with the assistance of Mr. Campbell, he removed all thnt could be taken out of the premises, and it is believed the Bank will not lose a single document or security by the fire. Yesterday morning Mr. Carr secured temporary premises adjacent to the office of the Back of .New Zealand, and opened at the usual hour. [per press agency.] Masterton, sth March. Insurance losses on the late fire are estimated at £5000. The strong room of the Bank of Australasia was opened this morning. The papers inside were scorched, but not materially damaged. The sealing-wax was not melted. The Bank will be immediately rebuilt, either with bricks or galvanized iron.