DISASTROUS FIRE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19813, 28 December 1929, Page 12

DISASTROUS FIRE.

QUARRY PLANT DESTROYED LOSS TO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. LTH» ?»BSB Special Seme*.] AUCKLAND. December -JT. A disastrous fire occurred at, the Public Works Department's quarry at Tauroa. 17 miles from Whangarei, m the early hours of yesterday morning, resulting in the complete destruction of the crushing buildings, plant, and machinery. The fire was first noticed at 3.20 a.m. bv Tom Quinu, an employee at the quarrv. and Robert Davidson, the engineer in charge, who were awakened by the glare and noise of falling timbers. Upon arrival at the crushing ■site the buildings were seen to be blazing so fiercely that nothing could be done to check the outbreak. Quinn bad passed the quarry at midnight, when everything seemed to be safe. Three hours afterwards the plant was in flames from end to end. The origin of the fire is unknown, as the fires in the boilers were drawn on Christmas Eve and no work had been done since then. A bucket brigade was organised, but the workers could not get near the blazing building. Fortunately, there Was no wmd, and it was possible to save the carpenter's shop and adjoining buildings, and also the offices, which are all a short, distance away. Mr Shanklr.nd, an officer of the Department, and Detective-Sergeant Robertson visited the scene of the fire, but fouJd find no clue to its origin. Twisted ironwork and tangled machinery were all that remained. One crusher was hurled down on to the railway line «ome feet lielow the level of the pjant. The quarry has a fine deposit of basalt rock and is easily the largest in North Auckland, if not in Auckland province. Being situated within h few chains of the main north railway line, it is of strategic importance to the development of the northern roads and railways. The crushing plant, which is rendered useless, was most up-to-date having been remodelled in recent years, and consists of three crushers, elaborate screeners and hoppers, and even a plant for holding rejects. The motive power was provided by a large steam plant, and the quarry had an output of over 200 cubic yards a day. The quarry lias been worked practically ever since Hie Main North road to Whangarei was started many years ago, and was for many years worked by the Public Works Department. In later years contracts for the delivery of crushed metal had been let. the present contractor being Mr Marino Garey, his contract being for approximately 25,000 cubic yards. The fire must necessarily seriously affect the supply of metal to the railway line under construction between Kirikopuni and Dargaville, and also the supply to local bodies, in particular Hobson and Otamatea Counties. Tho Whangarei County having its own quarries, will not be greatly affected. As the Public Works Department already has large dumps of metal in addition to a quarry on an island near Workworth, construction of the Main North highway will be very little affected for the present. As the result of the fire, about fifty men engaged at the quarry will be thrown out of work, and in addition tho men engaged in handling the metal on the railway and road construction works will be out of employment.