FIRE DAMAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 21, 25 January 1934, Page 10

FIRE DAMAGE.

MERCURY MINE PLANT.

POISONOUS FUMES DANGER. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANG ARE I, this day. Fire which started in dry scrub in the Whenuaroa Gully and swept over the countryside for abodt two miles did serious damage to the buildings and plant of the British Mercury Mining Company at Puhipuhi, about 22 miles from Whangarei, The main building was completely destroyed and two stores were burned to the ground. The danger of the fire was realised a,i soon as it started, and a number of settlers endeavoured to beat it out, but they could not prevent the flames from reaching the main building, which contained the retort, machinery and the air sliute used for taking away the mercury fumes. The heat shattered the sliute, and Mr. H. Jordan, caretaker of the works, ordered the men to stop in their endeavours to check the fire, owing- to the danger of poisoning from the mercury fumes. Several cottages, however, were saved. No operations have been carried on at the mine during the past year. The loss of machinery is heavy, and must run into several thousands of pounds. The chief menace to the company, however, was the danger of the flames getting into the underground workings. About £30,000 has been spent on prospecting and development work in the area, and fire underground would mean the loss of all'the capital expenditure.

CANDUES LETT BURNING? (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) P AERO A, this day. A four-roomed house on the To Aroha Road, owned and occupied by Mr. N. Williams, a launch driver employed by the Public Works Department, was totally destroyed by fire on Monday nigh t. A 15-year-old boy was the only occupant of the house at the time of the fire. It is believed that tho boy had gone to sleep and left a candle burning. Nothing was saved. There was no insurance on the house or tho contents. CHURCH SERVICE STOPPED. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANG ARET, this day. When fire broke out in a house near the Roman Catholic Church at Te Karac, a few miles north of Ivohukohu, the church service was interrupted while members of the congregation made strenuous efforts to save the building and contents, which, however, were totaJly destroyed. The building, a fiveroomed house, owned by Mr. Ihutai, was occupied by three families at the time.