SERIOUS FIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 859, 4 July 1910, Page 5

SERIOUS FIRE.

LARGE CEMENT WORKS SUFFER. NET LOSS OVER £3000. (By Telcgraph.-Press Association.) Dunedin, July 2. A serious Src broke out in tho Burnside Cement Company's works at Burnside about 5 o'clock this morning. When the firo was discovered it had a strong hold, but a bucket brigade did splendid work in keeping the flames in check. The lire started in or near tho coal stores, but the origin is not known. Nearly GOO tons of cement, ready for bagging and valued 'at close on £1500, wero stored in this wing, and the flames obtained their strongest hold among tho wooden bins containing the cement. Tvto out of six electrical motors wero practically destroyed, but how far other motors and machinery have been injured is hard to tell at present, tho roof having collapsed, and covered them in the dobris. It is certain, however, that the gear and belting 'ire utterly destroyed, and these, with tho wiring and general electric installation, are expensive items. Tho walls and steel girders aro all that is left of tho wing where the firo began. Tho men were working till midnight last night, and everything appeared safe when they left. The Burnsido Lime and Cement Company have been unfortunate in respect to such losses. A little over two and a half years ago a wooden building which they wero erecting was blown down, and it was in consequence of that accident that they built tho present place in brick. The Guardian office hold all the insurance, totalling £12,000 on the buildings, £2750 on the machinery, £6750 on the stock, £1400 on the oil engine, £100 on tho electric motors, and £100 on the installation. Tho damngo -is hard to estimate yet, but probably it will amount to over £3000.