DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT HASTINGS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3066, 30 April 1917, Page 6

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT HASTINGS

BIG FRUIT COOL STORAGE WORKS , DESTROYED BLOW TO ORCHARDISTS By Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, April 28. At 12.30 this morning the police discovered a firo at the Hawke'e Bay Fruit Cool Storage Works. Although the brigade was promptly on the* scene it was found impossible to effect a save, and "the whole of the fine buildings and plant were reduced to smouldering ruins. Great danger was caused by. exploding ammonia cylinders. One cylinder penetrated the wall of a building 30 feet distant.

The works, which were formally opened by the late Hon. Dr. M'Nab in February, 1914, cost -£10,000, and their destruction will be a serious blow to fruit-growers, who are now deprived of the means of cool storing their fruit. At the time of the lire, between twenty-two ajid twenty-three thousand cases of apples and pears—the largest stock the company has yet held—were in the cool chambere, most of which, it is expected, were damaged by water and steam.

■The cause of the'fire is unknown. The engineer left all apparently safe at 10.30 p.m.

Messrs. Apsey and White rented two cool chambers, in which thev had £5000 worth of fruit. .

Insurance: On the building and plant, £5000 in the United Office; Apsey and White's fruit, £2000 in thn Ocean .Office. Other insurances afi£ the estimated loss are not yet available.