GREAT FIRE AT CLUNES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 171, 3 June 1862, Page 5

GREAT FIRE AT CLUNES.

(From the Ballarat Star, May 22.) Our Clunes correspondent writes as follows : —" On Monday night a temble lire took place in the maiu street, Climes, and six houses were'burnt to Iho ground. The fire originated in the Exhibition Store, at about nino o'clock p.m. The occupier of the store was at the time absent delivering certain parcels sold during the evening. The fire originated at the westward corner of the store, but by -what means is not at present known. Some very serious remarks have been made upon this unhappy occurrence, -which, until an inquiry is made into the matter, it would bo unfair to refer to further. Six stores are burnt to the ground—namely, the one^in which the fire first occurred, occupied by Mr. Lugg, known as the Exhibition Mart; next to that the cottage of Mrs. Rankin, who was also the owner of the foreincntioned store, Mr. King's butcher's shop; Mr. O'Neil's business places ;a. tailor's establishment; and Mr. Moses's watdi and jewelbry establishment. The latter place was pulled down by the public to stay the fire, which, had it got hold of Dauber's large tinsmith's factory adjoining, would have undoubtedly caused the conflagration to go on to the end of the street, 'iho whole of the residents in the place acted most honorably and fearlessly, rushing into danger, and working utterly regardless of it. It falls to my lot to eulogise the men who aided the unfortunate sufferers by the fire : to mention one or twenty would be wrong, and to say simply that scores acted manfully, would not meet the case. I must therefore confine myself to stating that all those who were at the time called *•' Clunes boys'' did their duty well. Dr. Kobinson had his garden pump conveyed to the spot, T and this much assisted in keeping the Nag's Head Hotel from . taking fire. Mr. W. G. Morgan, Mr. Nichols, and others of the municipal council were at the point of danger, assisting as one man. I may mention, as one instance, the use of Dr. Itobiuson's garden pump. It saved to all intents the Nag's Head Hotel, which is charred very much, and had it caught fire would have spread to a fearful extent. Besides Mr. Moses's premises, which were pulled down to stay the progress ot the fire, Mr. It. Morrison's farriery shop was also destroyed in order to prevent the spreading of tho fire. I learn that Mr. Lugs, of the Exhibition store, is insured to the amount of £1,000, and that, with the exception of one other person who is insured to tho amount of £200, none other has the benefit of insurance. '*