FIRE AT MORRINSVILLE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1486, 12 January 1882, Page 2

FIRE AT MORRINSVILLE.

Early yesterday , morniug a fire took place at the Nottingham Castle Hotel, Morrinsville, which resulted in the destruction of an outhouse used as a kitchen and cook-house, together with the stables belonging to the establishment ; the total damage occasioned being estimated at £400. The origin of the fire has not been ascertained, but it is supposed a tramp had taken refuge on the premises, and that the accident was occasioned by the incautious use of matches. That, however, is mere conjecture, as no stranger was discovered on the premises either before or after the alarm. The landlord of the hotel, Mr R. Brown, returned home from Te Aroha, en route from Auckland, the night previously, arriving about 11.30 p.m. 'He found the house closed, the. inmates having gone to bed. He roused the groom, who slept on the premises, and who assisted him to unharness and stable his horse. He (Mr Brown) then went round the house, and finding everything secure went to bed. Within half-an-hour after doing so, viz., at about 1.20 a.m., he was aroused by the cry of fire. At that time the flames were bursting out from a room attached to the kitchen, and which is known by the suggestive name of the dead-house, i.e., the apartment usually allotted to " dead heads " and persons unable to pay for their lodgings. The flames spread rapidly, and, although assistance was at hand and a plentiful supply of water obtained, the building in which the fire was first discovered, together with the stables — a detached building — were • completely consumed. A buggy and, three sets of harness, as also a new saddle and bridle were consumed. The stable was insured for £100, .xnd the main building, a portion of which was used as the kitchen, for £850. It is not at present known in which office these insurances were effected. There was no fire-place in the room where the flames were first discovered, and, unless upon the hypothesis mentioned above, no idea can be formed as to the origiu. Ihe hotel has otherwise sustained damage, the windows being broken, and the walls badly charred.