BIG BLAZE AT BULLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2455, 20 March 1909, Page 5

BIG BLAZE AT BULLS.

NEW POST OFFICE DESTROYED. (Frees Association.) WELLINGTON, March 19. Advice lias been received that the main street in Bulls township has,been devastated by fire. The buildings destroyed include the post office, just erected. ' _. MARION, Alaicli 19. A most disastrous fire occurred f.e Bulls last night. The outbreak was m W. B. Clark’s store, next to the i<st office. The. fire had a strong nold before tiro alarm was given. A strong south-easterly gale was blowng, wit heavy rain. The fire spvoiiu rapid-.V A blacksmith’s shop, owned ly J. E. Walker, and occupied by H, O’icen; Thomas King’s office, and tilt Rarig'rjkei Dairy Company’ premises were all demolished. Efforts being futile pie- i vent the. "spread of the flames, b J. Mansell’s ironmongery mid rrocket y | storerooms, also a dwelling at tne back | of the premises caught light. ihe heat was terrific. The post office, a 1 civ brick building, caught 'fire under the caves. Strenuous efforts to stay the progress ol the fire were .f no avail. The whole interior of the bunding was burnt, nothing being left i nt the w ds. At ibis time the buildings on the opposite side ox the street, in the direction of the. wind, were in imminent danger. Gorton and Son’s and the Kanaitikei. Racing Club’s office c ueht, but the fire was extinguished by a bucket An effort was made to ■ ■ ve the Town Hall, but it was burnt vo tne ground. The adjoining shop and ’ 'ulug, owned by Mansell, and occupied respectively by G. Nicholson (bootan urn) ontl F Paul, was burnt. . The bucket brigade’s attention y.as turned to saving the tax.or s shop .owned by John Stevc-nson, and occupied by 'Monks on the north side of the po-t dfice Fmtunateiy, the efforts to save the buildings were successful; otherwise other buildings, including the pub he libi'any which adjoins, and McG c o or > tire, must have gone Mansell and Sob’s stored at he south end of tins street, also escaped, the store being d - itached from Nicholson shallowing loom Tor the public to exercise their enei- ; '(Ties and bv systematic working the 5 lireVas checked. It *u fort.i»ate the H lire was stopped here, for tne Ran ■ tikei hotel, the Banks of New /Zealand and New South Wales, and bui.dmgs adjoining, would have oeen destroyed. The official returns of the post- office documents, and letters vvere_ savee . The stock of Clark’s store, consisting of a. new and large shipment of autumn and winter goods, was burnt. . -is heavy. Mansell and Sou saved then stock, but it was damaged by ram and removal, file estimated loss being £IOOO. Nichols curs -stock and equipment were saved. The building was insured lot £165 in the Northern office. Clarke s stock was insured in the Victoria office for £SOO, and the stock m the same office for £IOOO, and £BOO m the. South British. Mr. Clarke is a heavy loser. The blacksmith’s, shop JgVglker s) was insured ifer £125 in the National office. King’s office was insured for £125 in the same'company. The Town Ilall was covered "to the extent of £4OO m the National office. _ Mansell and Son’s bulk storeroom was insured for £465 in the Northern offiec. About S this morning an outbreak occurred in three different bedrooms of the Ran git iike i hotel at Bulls, and bedding and mattresses were burnt. The loss is estimated at about £l5O.