FIRES IN MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1316, 20 May 1897, Page 18

FIRES IN MASTERTON.

FIVE HOUSES DESTROYED. Shortly before midnight on Monday a firo broke out in a cottage in Victoria street, Masterton, occupied by Mrs McConville (sister of Detective Herbert). Mrs McConville was engaged in stuffing a kapoc mattress when a candle accidentally came in contact with the material. She endeavoured to smother the flame with a blanket, but, failing in her effort, she rushed out on the verandah with her two little ones and gave an alarm. When the brigade arrived it was found that the only water connection was some distance away and that the hose was not quite long enough. The house was destroyed and Mrs McConville lost everything. The adjoining house, occupied by Mr Byford, had a narrow escape. Mrs McConville took refuge in a house in Wrigley street, occupied by Mr Fry, but at 10 o'clock on Sunday morning thia house also caught on firo. Within 10 minutes the brigade was at work, but its efforts were unavailing, and the two adjoining houses, occupied respectively by Mr Collier and Mrs Maimer, wore destroyed. A strong wind was blowing at the time and the pressure of water was very low. A few minutes afterwards a house on the ! corner of Hope street, occupied by Mr Hartrnann, caught fire, and the Fire Brigade turned its attention to this latest outbreak. Its exertions were aided by a heavy shower of rain. The furniture in the house was removed. A house at the corner of Wrigley street, a double house in Hope street and a house occupied by Mrs A. Moore also caught on fire several times, but were extinguished before much damage was done. The house belonging to Mr James Wrigley, and occupied by Mr Fly, was valued at .£200.' It was totally destroyed. Mr E. A. Collier's house, also totally destroyed, was valued at

, <£2so. -Mr A. W. Renall's house, occupied .J by Mrs Marner, was valued at .£125. The J house in Hope street, owned by the Borough ( Council and occupied by Sir Bartmann, is j completely gutted and stripped of its roof. I The Fire Brigades worked remarkably well. Water had to be fetched a distance of from six to eight chains on to the fire, and it was found necessary to obtain more hose J from the brigade stations. The brigades were quite unprepared for the sudden outbreak of fire, as owing to the fire in Victoria street their appliances were being cleaned, and tho hose was off the reels hanging out to dry. The cause of the fire in Wrigley street was a chimney fire in a house on the opposite side of the street. The sparks from the chimney set light to tho house inhabited bv Mr Ply. Mr Wrigley's house was insured for .£125 ; Mr B. A. Collier's for «£l5O, and Mr A. W. Benall's for .£SO, all in tho National office. Mr Collier's furniture was insured in the North British office for «£IOO, and the house occupied.by Mr Hartmann, in Hope street, was insured for .£SO. The house destroyed in Victoria street, which was occupied by Mrs McConville, was insured for .£125 in the same office.