FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 36, 10 February 1903, Page 3

FIRES.

PKK PRESS ASSOCIATION. Dunkdin, Fobruary 9. The Morningtcn cable tram sheds, engine and plant were wholly destroyed by fire at about 3 o'clock this moroirg. The fi>-e is Buppo3ed to have started in the office. It burnt the ad jeinug three houses and a store facing the town hall, occupied by Lowden, a tram engineer, 6. VT. Grigf, a police constable, Power, and Mrs Weir. Practically nothing was saved. The Mornington Council was about to take over the tram from the Company. Lateb. The tramway plant and building are a total loss roughly valued at £IO,OOO, they were insured in theßoyalfor£43Bo, of wh-'ch £2660 was reinsured as follows : National £760, Norwich Union, New Zealand, Victoria. South British, and Standard £3BO each. The Royal bad a risk of £1365 on the other building destroyed. The United had a line of £4OO on Weir's store (partly destroyed), The Liverpool, London, and Globe £250 on Weir's stock and fittings (total lra<). It will be fully 6or 8 months before the tramway can be running again, A sale had been arranged to the mornington Corporation, bus it was not finally concluded. The popular theory is that the fire was caused by a burglar who bad earlier visited an hotel in the district. Mastebton, February 9. A fire broke out in Street and Crowder's boardingbouse at 3.20 this morning. Tbe building was gutted. There were some fi f te*n boarders in the house at the time, but they all escaped. The insurance on the house was £275 in the Boyal and £365 on the furniture in tbe South British.