Probe as fire hits third bag

Press, 2 September 1989, Page 1

Probe as fire hits third bag

By

BARRY CLARKE

New Zealand Post is investigating three fires on trucks carrying mail bags in rural areas since last October. The fires have all occurred on Sutherland’s Distributors vehicles, which has a contract with New Zealand Post. About 200 bags of mail bound for the West Coast were almost totally destroyed by fire on a truck about 7km north of Darfield about 2 a.m. yesterday. The Hornby C. 1.8. investigated yesterday and are satisfied that there were no

suspicious circumstances. They have left the incident in the hands of fire safety officers who are trying to determine the cause of the fire. The mail had left Christchurch bound for Sheffield, Springfield, Arthur’s Pass, Otira, Kumara, Westport, and Runanga. Mail bound for destinations east of Darfleld had already been dropped at the respective post offices. A New Zealand Post spokesman, Mr Neil Wilson, said the latest incident was worrying. In October 22 mail bags carrying about 3000 items of mail were estimated to have been lost when a trailer caught fire near

Geraldine.

Mail was destroyed in another fire on the Lewis Pass about “three or four months ago” while in transit from the West Coast to Christchurch, said Mr Wilson. The company manager, Mr Roger Sutherland, said the first two fires started from inside mailbags. He was unsure what had caused the incident yesterday. Mr Wilson said the mail recovered from the blaze would be distributed as soon as possible. He has urged people who may have posted items which went through the Christchurch postal centre for the West Coast to contact their local post office.