BLAZE AT RAHOTU.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 25 June 1928, Page 6

BLAZE AT RAHOTU.

KAHUI FACTORY DESTROYED MYSTERIOUS OUTBREAK.

A disastrous fire, resulting in the total destruction of Kahui Road; Dairy Factory, occurred about- midnight on Saturday. Numerous sheets of twisted and blackened galvanised iron and piping and the bare chimney stack are all that remain of what was the previous dav a well-appointed factory, and the origin of the fire is a complete mystery. Mr. P. Norgate who was passing on his return home from Opunake was the first to notice the fire, and the factory was then a blazing inferno with the roof about* to fall in. Though lie at once got in touch with Mr. W. Fleming, and the majority of suppliers, roused by telephone, were quickly on the scene, it was impossible to save anything. The manager (Mr. A, J. Murdoch) and the assistant (Mr. F. Fahish) had left early in the afternoon, when everything appeared safe, and residents on the road within ai few chains of the factory heard nothing untoward. Fortunately there was 1 very little stock in the factory, only a few cheeses for local winter requirements and a few boxes of butter being destroyed. The building and plant were insured, but the amount is at present not* available. Fire has played havoc with dairy factories in Taranaki during recenttimes. as in the last four months four have- been demolished, the others being the Royal Oak at Omaha, Cape Egmont at Pungarehu, and the Kina Road' factory at Oaonni.