$l0,000 DAMAGE

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32880, 1 April 1972, Page 18

$l0,000 DAMAGE

Explosion and fire More than $lO,OOO in damage was caused to the premises of Bitumac Roofing, Ltd, 30 Coleridge Street, when a boiler exploded and caught fire about 6 a.m. on Thursday. A man who was lighting the boiler, Mr H. Caulfield, of 73 Coleridge Street, had gone to the toilet and was not beside the boiler when it exploded, as he otherwise would have been. The fire was fed by the diesel oil fuelling the boiler, and the blaze was fierce when the fire brigade arrived. Before it came, Mr Caulfield cut off the power to the ■ boiler, and unsuccessfully tried to fight the blaze with a hose. Three units from the Cen-' tral Fire Station, one from Sydenham and one from Woolston attended, as did two fire board staff-cars. The last firemen did not leave until 9.45 a.m. In the early stages of the fire, the firemen were hampered by leaking bitumen, and dry-powder extinguishers were used as well as hose deliveries. McKenzie Trust The J. R. McKenzie Trust Board is inviting charitable and educational institutions in New Zealand to apply for grants from the board. Applications must be made on special forms obtainable from the board’s secretary, P.O. Box 10006, Wellington, and must be completed and returned not later than May 31, and for national organisations, June 30. Grants are usually made for some portion of operating expenses. They cannot be made for buildings, monuments, swimming baths, and other capital expenditure. Individuals are not eligible for grants. All applications from national organisations should be sent by their headquarters.