FIRE AT MASTERTON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIII, Issue 120, 19 May 1909, Page 5

FIRE AT MASTERTON.

SEVERAL BUILDINGS DESTROYED. i[BBESS ASSPCI ACTION.] MAST^RTQN, May 19, A iire broke out at 1 a.m. in afruit shop and billiard saloon odcupied by.a Japanese named Ah Lop, part of a two-storey; block of buildings close to the post office. It was raining heavily at the'time. The .fire spread along the upper stories and practically destroyed these buildings and others which were occupied by Mrs Home, refreshment saloon; Blirikhorn., tobacconist; Clarke, fishshop; and Cole and Westerman, drapers.. A large part of the latter's stock was removed, but was much damaged. ' ■ '" Later. The buildings destroyed at Masterton belonged to the Lands Trust, and^ were erected many years ago. Mr and Mrs Home and two children slept on the premsies, and had a narrow escape; f' ■ ~ The insurances, amount to £3000. Immediately after this fire Buttlement's Brewery, an old unoccupied building, was burned down. It was /insured :for £338. '■' ",-'■•