FIRES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13491, 13 January 1908, Page 5

FIRES.

Per Press Association.

WANGANUI, January 12.

A fire occurred in Mr ■ Watson's house of 18 ■rooms connected with the Collegiate School on Saturday afternoon. The upxtaiis portion wais gutted. A large amount of furniture and valuables was saved, but a quantify of personal effects including a. valuable collection of Japanese goods was destroyed. The building was insured for £looo' in the Standard Office, and the furniture for £6OO in the New Zealand Office. The damage: to the building is estimated at. £3OO. and that to the. furniture at £2OO.

The clang of the fire-bell quickened the steps of tlie peopk' in the streets on Saturday night a. little after 9 o'clock, and the rattle of the hose reel and a. bright glare on surrounding buildings guided them to Barnard street. A brisk fire was burning an <mipty outhouse at the rear of Mr J. Shaw's cottage, next one of Murdoch's timber yardfi. When the. reel was run out. to the nearest' lire-plug, it, was found that there was no hydrant on it. and a man had to be sent hack i\ the illation to gi i one. This caused some minuus' delay. The old and empty outhouse burned brilliantly, but the. first "douche of water, well direct:'d. destroyed the Hames entirely, and a crowd mi the Ui-ward side suddenly found t.hemsehv-. in darknwi. and a ptingi-nl snr' k> which previously had been going upwards. The properly belongs to Mr John .Shaw, and both collage ;ind outhouse were unoccupied. The last tenant* had left only a. day or two ago. and it was siirmis.d that the tiro originated from smouldering ashes from rubbidi burned in the outhouse fireplace.