INSURANCE CLAIM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 142, 18 June 1931, Page 12

INSURANCE CLAIM

WAIROA MEAT WORKS

EVIDENCE FOR COMPANY

ORIGIN OF THE FIRE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GISBORNE, This Day. Evidence for the plaintiffs was given in the Supreme Court this morning in the action by the Wairoa Farmers' Meat Co. and the Bank of New Zealand claiming £77,850 insurances in connection with the fire at the works in February. Patrick Cowan, fireman, outlined the damage done by the earthquake on 3rd February, and said tho works were running normally after the power was restored. On sth February he felt a slight earthquako at 9 p.m. About 9.45 p.m. he received an indication of fire, which was located at the store. Cross-examined, the witness stated that an ammonia pipe was repaired on 3rd February. There had been no fire drill at the works. • Reginald Samuel Corbett, tallow foreman, deposed that after the earthquake all the buildings were in good condition except the gable end of the preserving block and, the chimney stack. The fire occurred at the south west corner of "C" store, close to the river. Pcoplo were in the habit, of using the intervening space as a lovers' walk, and lie had seen fishing nets stored under the corner of the store.

Cross-examined, witness said that cracks in tho wall of '.the, tallow store were there when witness took over his position prior to /tho earthquake. It was seven minutes before the brigade arrived. The fire had then a good hold, and the water was cut off soon after.

David Byfield, superintendent, of the fire brigade, detailed the brigade's operations after the alarm was received. After crossing tho damaged bridge, he said, he and his men were taken by cars to the works.- They played water into the store. The pressure was not too good, and he asked the engineer' for more, but Mr. Marshall said {.ho pumps were doing their best. A second lead was put on. This reduced the pressure, which became so low that it was merely a flow from the nozzle. Witness then ordered the power to be cut off. The flames were gaining with great rapidity. He instructed the firemen to save what they could. The meat trucks, were pushed away and other salvage work was done. The fire raged through the night. The fact that they were unable to get a water tender across the river was no hindrance, as they had plenty of .hose at tho works. It was absolutely certain that the origin of the.-fire was in "C" store, and it appeared to have started either on or under the t floor. Fourteen firemen were there. It was a good turn-out, tho men being quickly on the spot. They received all the assistance they asked for from the company's employees.

On the day of tho earthquake two Wairoa buildings were destroyed,, one by the upsetting of a kerosene stove 'and, the other by matches igniting when tipped off shelves. In another case a bottle of methylated spirits fell on a stove and ignited, but a second shake rocked a tank and put the fire out. The organisation of the brigade had not been disturbed by .the earthquake.

Cross-examined, the witness stated .that there was no water in the town mains on the night of the fire in consequence of the earthquake of 3rd February. The water supply available would not reach the ceiling of the store. The flames came through a crack in the wall before they, came through the roof. The opening" was due .to'the wall parting from the building. He had' expected that there would be ample pressure, irrespective of whether the water came from the works, reserve, or river, but for fire-fighting the supply given was hopeless.