WOOL STORE GUTTED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 257, 27 July 1936, Page 10

WOOL STORE GUTTED

Port Ahuriri Fire Causes £30,000 to £lO,OOO Damage

BUILDING AND CONTENTS COMPLETE LOSS By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, July 26. Damage estimated at from 130.000 to £40.000 resulted from a fire which completely gutted the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Co-operative Association's wool store at Port Ahuriri early this morning. The store and several hundred bales of wool are a complete.loss, but the buildings and contents are covered by insurance totalling £33,215. Thirty firemen made a determined effort to save at least part of the store, and although their efforts were unsuccessful, they protected a large twostory woq! store adjoining, belonging to Dalgety and Co., Ltd. Negotiations have already been started to have a new store erected on the same site. This is to be started without delay for completion before the approaching wool season. The cause of the fire is unknown. The wool store occupied one and a quarter acres. Three pumping machines were at work and eight leads of hose were in action. The fire was discovered by the harbour board watchman, who saw smoke issuing from the windows in the direction of the offices. Two brigades arrived shortly before 6 o'clock and by 9 o'clock the whole building had been razed to the ground.

Accurate details as to the number of bales of wool in the store are not yet available, as the strongroom has not been opened owing to the intense heat. It will be opened to-morrow morning.