FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 23

FIRES.

! NEW PLYMOUTH, April 26. | At 2.30 this morning a fire broke out in the New Zealand Express Company's cart ' ehed. The building and two expresses, together with one dray, were destroyed. I The loss is about £145. The New Zea- ! land Insurance Company had a policy of I £350 on the carrying plant and £25 on I the building. A commercial traveller's • samples that were on one express awaitj ing delivery this morning were also de- ' stroyed. GISBORNE, April 27. A fire at Tolago Bay destroyed premises owned by Mr C. E. 'Smith and occupied by Mr R. Colebrook (storekeeper), Mr O'Connor (bootmaker), and Mr G. E. i Smith (saddler). The- insurances a.re: 'Mr Smith. £SOO on the buildings and £3OO on the stock in the State office; Mr O'Connor, £240 in the State office; i Mr Colebrook, £I4OO on the stock in the ! South British office. FEILDING, April 29. | A disastrous fire occurred at Waituna I at 3 o'clock this morning, the Waituna store, owned by W. Woolven, being completely destroyed. The post office (which I was in the store) was gutted, with a i quantity of mail matter and £3OO in cash. The building was valued at £I3OO, and was insured for £BOO. The stock, valued at £2OOO, was insured for £I2OO. I On Saturday, April 23. at Owaka. a' shed and cow-byre containing a chaffcutter and a quantity of sheaves were destroyed by fire. The property, valued at £IOO, was owned by Mr .A. Paterson. and was not insured. It is supposed that the fire was caused through the owner's son dropping a match near some straw. About 11 p.m. on Tuesday, 26th, a. five-roomed house, together with furniture, belonging to Mr "Robert Morgan, of Barn-ego Flat, was burned to the ground (states out Balclutha correspondent). The family had retired to bed about 9.30, and) was awakened to find the house in flames. With the exception of a few blankets, nothing was saved. The house and furniture were insured for £2OO in the State office, and Mr Morgan estimates his loss at about £IOO above that. The fire originated in the sitting room, which the family had occupied before retiring, but the cause of the outbreak i-s unknown.