DEVASTATED BY FIRE.

Mataura Ensign, 19 March 1909, Page 3

DEVASTATED BY FIRE.

DESTRUCTION AT BULLS. SEVEN BUILDINGS DESTROYED. IT.K UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. MAETON, .March 1!>. A lire broke out at midnight in Clarke's grocery itore. Bulls, and ca light the caves of the new post of lice, a cement building. The ilames burst through the rool and spread to Green's blacksmith shop, and from thence to King's commission agency office, tho Town Hall, Nieboioon's bootmaking shop, and Mansell's old store, all of titese buildings being de.stro.ved. Mansell's new store was scorched ar.d tile Rangitikei Hotel caught fire throe times, but was eventually saved. Stevenson's tailoring shop also caught alight, but the outbreak was extinguished. The records «f the post office and documents and letters were saved. Clarke's stock, consisting of a new and largo shipment of autumn and winter goods, was burned, the loss being lieai;v. The collective loss is estimated at thousands of pounds.