FIRE AT WAVERLEY.

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 July 1901, Page 2

FIRE AT WAVERLEY.

(From Oxir Own Correspondent.)

WAVERLEY, Wednesday. Mrs M. Cohen's drapery and grocery establishment was wholly destroyed this morning at 3 o'clock. When the alarm was given by Mr Cathro, who is a neighbour of Mrs Coiien, the building was well ablaze. Not an article of any description wps saved, with the exception of the ledger, which was in charge of the assistant, who was sleeping in an adjoining cottage. Mr Cathrc's .property, adjoining, had a wonderful escape, although tlie weatherboards and partitions on tho fire side were considerably burned. A willing bucket brigade managed to check the lire. Every article of furniture and stock was saved : from Mr Cathro's by willing hands, and I am made to believe that no insurance was effected oa. same, bub tho building was'insured. As far as I can ascertain, the building and stock of Mis Cohen's pro- 1 perty was only partly insured in the Imperial for £2000. M"is Cohen, who is at present away at Auckland, will tea heavy ' losar. It was most fortunate that there was no wind at tho time, as the damage would have been very great. As it was, the windows on the opposite side- of tlie road, on the property belonging to Mr Annabel!, were broken by the heat. Great praise is due to the leaders of the bucket brigade, and I wish to mention the names of Messrs James Tait and Thurston in particular. Although at one time the building of Mr Cntbro's seemed doomed, the leaders of tUe brigade stuck to their task and had the satisfaction of saving the building from further destruction. On behalf of the leaders, I think it is a matter that the insurance company should consddsr compensation for the damaged clothes, not mentioning the cut and damaged limbs, of thoss who were the means of saving the adjoining property.