DESTROYED BY FIRE.

Mataura Ensign, 20 March 1909, Page 6

DESTROYED BY FIRE.

THE OVTISHEAK AT BILLS. t'Klt UNITED CHESS ASSOCIATION. JIAIITON, March 10. A must disastrous firu occurred at Hulls hist, night. The ouUiraiU took place in \V. 11. Clarke's store, next Id the post office, and had a strong hold before the alarm. There was a south-westerly, with steady ruin, and the Humes spread quickly. A blacksmith's shop, owned by J. E. Walker, and occupied by H. Croon. Thomas King's office, and the liungilikci . Dairv Company'* premises, were ail demolished. It spread to !•'. .). JJansell's ironmongery and crockery store room's, also dwellings at the buck of the premises. The .heat was terrific. The post office, u new brick building, caught under the c:uev, and strenuous efforts to stay its progress were, oi no avail. The j whole interior was burnt. By I his lime tlio buildings on the opposite | side of the street, in the direction of i tlio wind, were in imminent danger. Corton and Sou and the KungUikei Hucing Club's office caught, but the Humes were extinguished by a bucket brigade. Efforts were made to save Ihe Town Hull, but it. was burnt to II to ground. The adjoining shop and dwelling owned by M. AnselJ and occupied respectively by 0. .Nicholson (bootmaker) and !•'. Paul were burnt. The bucket brigade's attention was turned to saving the tailor's shop owned bv -lohn Stevenson, and occupied by Monks, on the north side of the post office. Fortunately, their efforts were rewarded, and the buildings saved, otherwise other buildings, including the Public library and .lones and McGregor's store must, have gone. Mansell and Sim's store at The south end of the street also escaped, the store being detached. Fortunately it stopped hwv, or the Hangitikei Hotel, Banks of NewZealand and New South Wales, and buildings adjoining- would have been destroyed.

The oflicial records of Ihe post office, documents, and letters were saved. The slock in Clark's store, consisting of a. new large shipment of autumn and winter goods, wns burnt, and the loss wi.ll be heavy. Mausell and Sons saved their gtock, but it was damaged b v rain and removal to an 1 amount estimated at €2OOO. Nicholson's stock and equipments were saved. The building was insured for £l<ss in the Northern. Clark's slock wns insured in the Victoria for £300; stock in the same office £IOO anil £BOO in the South Bditish. He is a heavy loser. The blacksmith's shop, owned by Walker, was insured for £123 in the' National; ICing's oflice. £133 in the same company; Town Hall. C-lUO in the National : Matisell and Sons' hulk slore-room. t-Joo in the Northern. About S this morning an outbreak occurred in three different bedrooms of the liaugitikei Hotel in Bulls. Bedding and mattresses wore burnt. The loss is about £l5O.