FIRE AT PALMERSTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2661, 15 March 1905, Page 24

FIRE AT PALMERSTON.

NEWSPAPER OFFICE AND COTTAGE DESTROYED. March 9. Informa-tion reached us at 1.30 this morning to the effect that a destructive fire had broken out at Palmerston, a? a result of which tho office of the Palmerston and Waikouaiti Times and a cottag-© were completely destroyed. The fire, which appears to have originated in the Palmerston Times office, was discovered about 10 minutes to 1, and the alarm was promptly given by^ the blowing of the \vTiistle of an engine in the railway yard. The flames had a strong hold, however, and in the absence of a water supply practically nothing could be done to check their progress, the newspaper office and a cottage adjoining it being demolished in a remarkably short space of time. At the time of the despatch of the message conveying the information to us it was expected that another cottage alongside the one destroyed would also be burned down. The Palmerston Times has been in the hands of Mr Donald M'Leod for the past few years. The- cottage which was destroyed was occupied by Mr M'Tague, a guard in the rail : way service, and the one adjoining was occupied by Mr Johnston, a blacksmith. The furniture was got out of both houses. Particulars regarding- the ownership of the houses, and also the insuraaices (if any), were not ascertainable this morning-. The night was fine, and fortunately there was an absence of wind. We desire to record our appreciation of the action of the postmaster at Palmerston (Mr Dean), who very kindly granted our correspondent every facility for communicating- with us. March 11. Further particulars regarding the fire at Palmerscon on Thursday morning fail to throw any lijcht upon the origin of the outbreak. Mr M'Leod, the proprietor of the Palmerston Times, left the office at 7.4-0 on Wednesday evening- to attend a meeting of the Borough Council, and his assistant left at 9.3& p.m., at which hour everything appeared to be quite safe. The Times Office was owned by Mrs Gill, and the cottago which was destroyed was the property of Mrs Sutherland. The dwelling occupied by Mr Johnston, blacksmith, had a narrow escape from destruction, but the efforts of a bucket brigade, with some garden hose, were sufficient to save it. The machinery in the Times Office was insured for £550, and Mr M'Leod had" a policy of £50 on his effects in the National office, but lie will be a heavy losev. Mrs Sutherland's house was insured for £100 in the Standard office, but the loss to, the owner will be about as much as the amount mentioned. Sir M'Tague will sustain a heavy loss, as his furniture, which was not ineured, was badly knocked about in the course of removal, while he also lost his purse, which contained a considerable .sum of money. Mr M'Leod's books, which vrere in a sa.fe, were reduced to ashes. Sixty new estates were placed last month under the management of the Public Trustee. „ The Australian cricketers have agreed to play a match at Suva, Fiji, on March 27, but they have stipulated that they must be allowed time for sight-seeing. A suggestion has been made that a mixed game should be played; that is, instead of Australia v.- Suva, some of the visitors should bra in both teams, to avoid the possibility of two batsmen being at the wickets all th*! afternoon.