A BIG FIRE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 14, 17 January 1921, Page 10

A BIG FIRE

AT A FREEZING WORKS

DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £100 000

(»T TttBOKAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WHA.NGAEEI, 16th January. A fire which caused damage etmi ed at £LOO,OOO, occurrea, on Saturday afternoon at tha freezing works of W and R. Fletcher, Ltd., situated at Reotahi (Whangarei Heads). Wovk for the week ceased at noon, and most ot" the employees war© away from the locality at the time ot the outbreak, which one of the watchmen discovered, a-, half-past two. The flamesthen had ii good hold, despite the full "use of fire-fighting -ippliances The slaughterhouse, the hide floor, with frozen stock and appertaining machinery, also ah the offices and a storeroom, were completely destroyed. A moderate wind which was blowing maiataiivd a direction away from other buildings, which otherwise would have been involved in total disaster. The cause of the fire is unaccountable, unless it was due to the {using of an electric wire. The fire means a stoppage of operations for an indefinite period, and a. large number of men beuisj thrown ont of employment. The insurances are- unknown here, as they ;:re conducted through tho Auckland offices of tho company.