AUCKLAND FIRE

Grey River Argus, 15 October 1936, Page 7

AUCKLAND FIRE

ONEHUNGA FELLMONGERY. AUCKLAND, October 14. The fire at the fejllmongery of the. tanneries of W. Sutherland and Coy., Onehunga, last night, was watched by hundreds of onlookers. Firemen from three brigades fought under the difficulty of darkncsq. for nearly an hour before midnight, in mastering the fire, 'which swept through the fellmongery store and leather works of W. Sutherland and Company, Ltd., Onehunga. The contents, valued at £3OOO, consisted of bal'eis of wool. loose wool skins, drying lejathcr, wax, borax, and other tanning materials. The bulding in which the fire start edi. which was used as a drying room for wool and skins, was insured for £lOOO, and contents for £l5OO (New Zealand Insurance Company). Heavy damage was caused to both the shed and contents. Sutherland’s tannery was destrjoyied by fire in 1909, and there wan also a minor outbreak last year. Insf.de was like a roaring furnace. Only the fact that a strong wind was blowing away from the main block of the bu'ild’ings prevented a more serious resullt. Owing to- the- awkiward situation of the building, the fire engines eonl ( ] not approach closely. After nearly an. hour, however •; heavy streams of water from hosqs checked the flames .sufficiently to enable the firemen to enter a portion of the building, and drag out smouldering bundles of skins. By mJ’dn'igh/t, the fire was extinguished, and a guard kept on tp watch the smouldering skins. The drying shed in which the fire started was valued at £lOOO, and is insured in the New Zealand Insurance Office. LIGHTER DAMAGED. WANGANUI, October 14. Valued at £7OOO, the New. Zealand Rdf rigeratflng* Company’s lighter Weitere, moored at. Imlay wiiarl. was bad'y damaged . this morning. The damage is estimated at £3OOO. The fire probably satined in the

vicinity of the engine room,, the intense heat rendering the; math wry useless, anj doing considerable damage to the interior lining, also break ing through to the insulated port on of the hold, where; meat is eailued. The Wetere was empty at the tiiu having been lightering on the previous day.