FIRE IN QUEEN ST.

Wairarapa Age, 27 August 1930, Page 5

FIRE IN QUEEN ST.

GOOD SAVE BY MASTERTON BRIGADE. SHOP OF MR. G. Me IV OR DAMAGED. NEW SEASON’S STOCK SUFFERS. The Masterton Fire Brigade, under the direction of Superintendent T. B. Robb, made a good save last night, when a fire was discovered at the back of the shop of Mr. George Mclvor, draper, Queen Street. Although the brigade soon had the outbreak suppressed, considerable damage was done to some new stock which had only arrived that day. The fire was caused by an electric iron which was left switched on. The alarm was given by Mr. W r . G. Perry, whose shop adjoins that of Mr. Mclvor. Mr. Perry had not long returned from Wellington and entering his shop shortly after nine o’clock he heard nnnsnal noises. On investigating, he found that the rear portion of Mr. Mclver’s premises was on fire. He immediately gave the alarm at the fire station. It was fortunate that Mr. Perry discovered the fire when he did, as if it had remained undiscovered for a few minutes longer the building probably would have suffered severely. As it was, the fire had a fairly good hold when the brigade arrived, but smart work on the part of the firemen soon had the flames checked. The rear portion of Mr. Mclvor’s premises suffered somewhat, a room adjoining the shop being fairly extensively damaged, while a considerable quantity of new season’s goods, which were being unpacked, were ruined. Some of the stock in the shop itself was also scorched and damaged by smoke and water. Mr. Mclvor will probably be a heavy loser. Mr. Perry’s premises sustained no material damage, but part of his stock suffered from smoke and water. » The building is an old one-storey wooden structure, owned by Mrs. May Rue, formerly of Masterton, but now residing in Australia. The insurances x on the building and on Mr. Mclver’s stock were not available last night, but Mr. Perry’s stock is covered for £7OO.