A DISASTROUS FIRE AT DUNEDIN.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 21 March 1901, Page 4

A DISASTROUS FIRE AT DUNEDIN.

(per press association.)

Dunedin, March 20.

A fire broke out about 0.30 in the New Zealand Express Co.’s brick stables, stores, etc, in Cumberland street, taken over from James Du tide and Company when that business was acquired. The fire broke out in the now building only completed about six weeks ago, and the whole of this (covering of an acre) wars gutted. It comprised a 48-stalled stable and a large store room 100 ft square above it. Most of the horses and carts were got out, but some six or seven horses were burned. The other building, also of brick, including a blacksmith's and saddler’s shops and stables and loft was damaged about the roof only. No particulars can be got j - et of the extent of the damage. It is said that about £SOOO worth of furniture was stored in the building destroyed, but the amount is not ascertainable yet. Later. The damage done by the fire in the N.Z. Express Co’s stables, is estimated at between £7OOO and £BOOO. The new building was valued at about £2,500. There were 71 horses in the stables, of which about six appear to Lave been burned to death. 1G drays and two furniture vans in the yards were destroyed. The value of the furniture in the store-room is difficult to ascertain. About £IOOO worth of the late lion. Larnaeh’s furniture is included. Probably £3OOO would be about the value of the whole building. The plant, contents, etc, were insured for £8,770 in the New Zealand Insurance Co., that Co. being reinsured with the Guardian United, National and Victoria.