FIRE IN FOUNDRY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 13

FIRE IN FOUNDRY

BLAZE AT PETONE

SOME STOCK DESTROYED

A, spectacular fire occurred in the Malleable Casting -Company's foundry, near the Petone railway crossing, opposite the Grand National Hotel, last evening, but not nearly as much damago was done as' the severity of the outbreak seemed to indicate. The. stock shed on. the seaward side of the main building 'was gutted, and stock worth between £400 and. £500 destroyed. The damage done to the building was estimated at approximately £200,

The stock shed was. the old.es* portion 'of the building and was shortly to be demolished. \ Extensive additions are being made to the main buildings. Slight, damage was done to an adjoining part, of .the building,, but the main concrete section , was undamaged.

The alarm was given by ; telephone at 10.7 p.m., and a few.minutes afterwards a street alarm was ' sounded. . The Petone Brigade was promptly .on the ; spot, and a good pressure .of water was brought to bear on the flames. The fire had been under way for some _ time before the alarm .was sounded, and the brigade had no chance of saving the stock shed, but did good work in confining tlie fire and saving the main part of the ' building, \ The blaze- was watched .with interest by motorists returning from the.theatres, and it.could be seen-from some distance across the harbour. .The brigade was able to cease work about midnight.

The.fire is believed to have: broken out after the building was vacated at 8.30 p.m. ■•■■.'■ .;,"■■■. The stock that was damaged was insured'for £200' and the damaged building for £100. ' ■ \ ; . • '