FIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 250, 19 November 1903, Page 3

FIRES.

NELSON, Nov. 18. Griffen and Sons', Limited, confec- ' tionery and biscuit factory was burnt down at 5 o'clock this morning. It was totally destroyed. The insurances amount to £9OOO, but the loss is consider alb ly over that amount. Later. The total insurances are £9OOO, and the loss over insurances is about £IO,OOO. It is unknown how the lire originated. There is considerable loss in customers' stock. Two dwellings were also damaged. NELSON, Nov. 19. It has been decided to hold an inquiry to-morrow as to the fire by which Criffen and Sons', Limited, biscuit aird confectionery works were completely destroyed this morning, this decision being at the request of the Underwriters. There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances, but there was a desire for enquiry owing to the magnitude of the fire. The insurances total £9IOO, distributed as follows :—Liverpool, London, and Globe £2200 on machinery and plant, and £3OO on building ; Standard £3OO on machinery and plant ; Northern £IOOO on building ; Guardian £2OOO on stock; Sun £IOOO on stock ; United £3OO on stock ; South British £I7OO on stock and £3OO on plant. The loss exceeded the insurance by about £12,000. The plant is valued at about £7OOO, and the buildings £3OOO, and the stock at betweeiv £II,OOO and £12,000. The stock was heavy, in preparation for Xmas trade, and in another month would have been very small. The books alone were saved.