REPAIRS MADE IN WEEK-END

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 6

REPAIRS MADE IN WEEK-END

WOOLPACKING STORE | AT BELFAST FIRE WILL NOT DELAY OPERATIONS Although the wool-packing department of the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Export Company’s works at Belfast was gutted by fire on Friday night, wool-handling operations will not be delayed. More than 80 men worked during the week-end and effected repairs which will make it possible for the company to continue with its full output this morning. A temporary covered wooden passage and platform, about 130 feet long, have been built from the drying room, across the gutted section of the department, to another wool store where packing operations will be carried out. New wool bins have been built, and repairs have been made to the electrical equipment for the wool driers. An official of the company said last night that the temporary repairs had been completed after two days of continuous work. The repairs were done by the Williamson Construction Company, Lt<U, assisted by many employees of tne company. "We started at 8 o’clock on Saturday morning and everything is now ready for usual operations this morning,” said the official. "No packing time whatever will be lost.” Salvage of the wool was also startdff on Saturday morning. Although this work has not yet been completed and the official could give no indication of the amount of wool that could be saved, he said that a fairly,substantial amount to that already recovered was in workable condition. He said that it would not be possible to estimate the extent of the loss until later this week. The wool-driers, which were protected from the fire by fire-proof doors, were tested yesterday afternoon and found to be in first-class working condition. Permanent repairs at the works will be commenced as soon as material is assembled and labour is available, the official added. BUILDING AT RAILWAY YARDS DAMAGED A building -used as an office and storeroom at the railway yards in Ensor’s road was damaged by fire on Saturday night. The Christchurch Fire Brigade received a call at 8.20 p.m. and found the interior of the building burning. Members of the railway yards staff were also in attendance with fire fighting equipment. The fire was put out before much damage was done to the actual structure, although some office equipment was spoiled. The building had one storey and was made of wood with an iron roof. It is not known how the fire started.