COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9285, 4 May 1891, Page 3

COUNTRY NEWS.

ANOTHER FIRE AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

(FKOM OPR OWN OORBKiiI'ONDBNT.) Paoiihwton Mouth, May 2,

At 2.40 this morning the fireball rang out, and it was speedily found that the oaueo of the alarm was an outbreak in a four-roomed cottage in Amoabury street, ownod by Mr J. J. Leigh, and occupied by Mr J. J. Speight, whoso wife and children were on the premises, and are said to have had a narrow escape, Mr Speight him .elf being absent from homo, Tho Fire Brigade, with reel and other appliances, were promptly on tho spot, as wero also the members of the Salvage Corps, but the (lames bad obtained too great a mastery to admit of any but a few trilling ortiolos being saved, Tbo building itself, which was a sabstautial one of its kind, was totally destroyed. Mr Leigh, tho owner of the house, is insured in the Now Zealand office for XIOO, his loss over the insurance being somewhere between £4O and £sll, Iho furniture was insured in the X’hcenix office for £2OO.

The meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, held on Thursday evening last, was adjourned until Tuesday next, a» it was thought the question under discussion, viz., tho report of tho committee appointed to consider tho provisions of tho proposed new Bankruptcy Bill, was of too groat importance to bo dealt with by tho comparatively small number of members present. I may menti m that tbo secretary of the Chamber is in receipt of a communication from the Colonial Secretary's office, enclosing correspondence with the Agent General ani the secretary of tho London Chamber respecting a pro. possd conference of English and oolonial Chambers of Commerce, to bo held in London in tho autumn of this year and inviting tho 00-ooeration of this and other Chambers in Now Zealand. It is considered that such a conference should bo of great practical value at tho time suggested, as several commercial treaties wicb the continent.il powers in Europe will then expire, and Important legislation in regard to com* rnercial matters will engage tho attention of the American Congress. On Tuesday evening it is probable that a delegate will bo appointed to represent this Chamber and tho district generally at tho proposed conference, ns more than one gentleman well qualified to undertake such a duty will visit the Old Country most opportunely. The weather at present is broken and un. sottlod, with every appearance of muoh rain, barometer reading, 29 05. Masterton, May 2.

The residence of Mr B. J. Chapman, on tho Upper Plain, Masterton, together with the outbuildings, was totally destroyed by fire last night. The furniture and outbuildings were insured in tho North British for £137. The iasuraucu on the dwelling is not known. The origin of tho tiro is a mydtery. Mr Chapman’s bouse is one of tho few which escaped destruction in tho late bush firo at the Uppel Plain. A rillo match, Masterton v. Ekotahuoa, was fired at Eketahuna yesterday, and was won by Masterton by 9S points.

(PBR PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Woodville, May 2.

At ft public meeting held hero last night to consider the course to bo pursued in regard to tho present railway timetable, which the Commissioners refused to alter, it was resolved to petition Parliament on the matter, drawing attention to the fact that although a largo sum was spent in completing tho railway to VVoodvillo, the district is much worso off in tho matter of railway communication than it was tivo years ago.