FACTORY FIRE IN WELLINGTON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 16

FACTORY FIRE IN WELLINGTON

DAMAGE BETWEEN £SOOO AND £IO,OOO GOOD SAVE MADE BY BRIGADE pBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, June 22. A spectacular fire in the premises of Prestige (New Zealand), Ltd., Home street, Wellington, early to-night caused damage estimated at between £SOOO and £IO,OOO. Four fire engines answered a call at 7.20 p.m., and for half an hour the brigade fought the biggest lire which has occurred ,in Wellington for several months. The damage was confined to the box room on the second floor, where the outbreak originated, and to a portion of the partly-manufactured stock. The origin of the fire is unknown. The building, which occupies a floor space of 25,000 square feet, is constructed of brick and concrete. The icinforced concrete w'alls prevented the fire from spreading to the machine room, where plant to the value of £26,000 is installed. When the brigade arrived, tongues of flame, fanned by a strong southerly wind, were leaping from the windows at the western end of the northern wing, and were threatening the new wing on the south side. Sixty employees were working on the premises when the fire was discovered, and a prompt alarm prevented more serious damage. While the brigade was attacking the flames, at least four hoses were in use simultaneously, and to supply them with water hydrants at a considerable distance from the scene of action were called into use, the longest being connected with a hydrant about 300 yards distant. As one of these lines crossed ‘ the tramway, until the flames had been subdued trams were diverted from Constable street to the Kilbirnie tram tunnel. The area is closely settled with a large number of fairly old wooden dwellings, and many householders were alarmed because of the proximity of the fire, though at no stage were these houses in danger.

A correct estimate of the damage .will not be possible until a detailed inspection is made. Almost immediately below the seat of the fire raw silk yarn, valued at approximately £IOO,OOO, is stored, and it was not known last night if the water or smoke had penetrated this part of the building. , . , “The brigade made a remarkably good save,” said Mr W. Thorpe, managing director! of Prestige (New Zealand), Ltd., to-night. “If- it had not been for the way they tackled the fire and the fact that the premises were not closed the damage would have been much more serious. As it is, we will resume at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning.”

HOUSE DESTROYED (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WHAKATANE. June 22. A five-roomed house and its contents at Edjgecumbe, owned and occupied by Mr H. Matchett, a farmer, were destroyed by fire last night. The family was away at the time. The building was insured for £2OO and the furniture for £2OO in the State Fire Office.