SERIOUS FIRE AT PALMER- STON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13651, 21 July 1906, Page 10

SERIOUS FIRE AT PALMERSTON.

TOO SHOPS GUTTED. Our Palmcrston correspondent informs us. hat a serious outbreak of fire occurred in .he township at an early hour this morn ng. resulting in two shops being complete;, ■jutted, while two others had a very iinrrcn .'scapo fiom destruction, Tho fire, whicl vas first noticed by the engine-cleaners in i'.o service of tho Railway Deparinieii shortly after 1 o'clock, appears to hav< jriginated in premises occupied by Mr Beck, who carries en business as a painter n Tivtrton street; and though the alarm .vas given with all possible despatch th■ames had such a hold that there was no ■banco of saving the building, efipeciall.is the slock of paints and paperhanping :nado additional fuel. From Mr Bf>ck> V op tho firo spread to an adjoining' shop which was occupied by Mrs Clements as n ,ewra! store, and this building was a-!»o -omplotely gutted; but two other building.-; -mo of which wa.-s occupied by Mis Clement and tho other by Craig and C'o. (butchers) '.vwo saved, though their contents wer-rc-C'.-.ssarily more or less damaged by water Fortunately there was no wind at thc'mo. as otherwise the instruction would almost certainly havo been much more ex tensive, possibly involving the Id's of a "hole blork of Vnildine.s. As it was. the promises in tho vicinity had a narro---■scape. One of the outhouses belonging t<'ho Batik of Now Zealand actually catislit Ire, but Ihe flames were extinguisher' h?fovn anv serious damage, was done.

Mr Brrek's shop cnntoinf'.'i n fairly heavy 4ock of pa'nts, and giass i.-ml one of Mrs Glcments's shops also veil filled with a. general variety of goods 'ml: the .second shop occupied by the latter ia.'] iwl much stuff in it.

Tho Palmerston Fire Brigade turned out >rompl.!y on t- 1 e alarm lxr'jig aivon, am! •.nder the direction of Captain Stewart did •xcolVnt work.

It io understood that all the buildin-.v •--ero owned by Mr John-ton. who is a ■esident of Rwlyn. No info-moron cou'd !, o irleaml this morning a.a to instiranccr 'ither on the buildings or stocks.