MYSTERIOUS FIRE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 75, 22 December 1926, Page 10

MYSTERIOUS FIRE

CASING COMPANY'S WORKS T2STROYED Dominion Special. Mastertoil, December 21. A mysterious lire occurred shortly after midnight on Monday at the Oppenheimer Casing Company's works, on Norfolk Road, which lies to the west Of the Waingawa Freezing Works, in the Wairarapa South County. 'The K. and H. Meat Company, which operates in Masterton, also suffered _ a slight loss through the fire spreading to its boiling-down works nearby. The Casing Company’s works, which arcbuilt in concrete, were inspected, as usual, at 6 p.m,, and again at 10 p.m., when everything was apparent!}’ safe. Soon after'midnight, however, a neighbour observed flames issuing through the roof of the building, and the alarm was given. The neighbourhood, however, is very sparsely populated, and, being isolated from any fire-fighting appliances, the fire had to take its course unobstructed. Naturally the contents of the building ignited very quicklv, and the fire soon was blazing beyond control. The flames spread to the boiling-down works, which, also being highly inflammable, were promptly demolished. Apart from the plant, the K. and tl. Company’s loss was restricted to a few casks of tallow. There was no insurance on the building, which was considered of very small value. The Oppenheimer Company’s loss is a severe one, as, apart from the destruction of the interior of the building, the wrecking of the plant will throw the season’s operations back considerably, as the slaughtering season at the freezing works, whence the company obtains its offal, etc., is now in full swing. The building was considered absolutely .fireproof, owing to its structure, and no theory can be advanced for the cause of the outbreak.-