PALMERSTON NORTH FIRE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 87, 29 March 1926, Page 5

PALMERSTON NORTH FIRE.

SEED CLEANING PLANT. Palmerston North, Mar. 28. A disastrous fire occurred early thio morning, when the seed cleaning and food mixing plant of A. J. Palmer, Ltd., was totally destroyed by fire. Two large two-storyed wooden buildings comprised the factory, and the plant was up-to-date cleaning and mixing machines. All that remain are a few heaps of tangled machinery and burnt stacks of grain seed. When discovered the fire had a powerful hold. The brigade had to confine itself to protecting adjoining business premises. Fortunately no win® was blowing, and the firemen, after a strenuous fight, prevented the spread to one of Palmerston’s leading business blocks. Included in the losses are two largo motor trucks. The company are heavy losers over the insurance, which aggregates £lO,OOO. Marton, March 29. Fire, at two o’clock yesterday morning, destroyed the storeroom of the Club Hotel and stock estimated at over £7OO. The cause is unknown. The store and contents were covered in the Atlas office. . WELLINGTON OUTBREAK. VALUABLE CARS SAVED. Wellington, Mar. 29. Th© calm of early Sunday morning was rudely disturbed when, at 3.46, the fire brigade received a call to an outbreak of fire in the Dominion Motors, Limited, near the corner of Courtney Place and Tory street. When the brigade arrived they found the flames already had a good hold in th© garage portion of the building, in which were 55 motor-cars .of varying makes, and nearly all new cars. As th© fire was raging on the first floor, where it had started, the brigade’s work was made much more difficult, as the only way of access was up the lift-well. In the face of a veritable hail of sparks, ladders were run up, and two leads of hese, with a very good pressure of water, were very quickly playing on the flames. It was only after they had succeeded in putting the flames out that the brigade were able see the extent of the damage, and the excellence also of the save that had been effected. On the first floor were 28 motorcars. Seven of these were totally detroyed by the flames, while 21 others suffered more or less severely by reason of the heat, smoke, and water, and also from the sparks which fell from the roof. On the ground floor were 26 motor-cars. Of these one only was totally destroyed through burning rubber falling from the coiling on to the hood and setting the car alight. Afany of tho others suffered from water and smoke, but not, comparatively speaking, to any great extent. What was equally plain with tho damage was the extent of the save effected by the brigade. They had succeded in confining tho flames to the garage itself. The showroom, which fronts on Courtenay Place, was absolutely untouched either by fire, smoke, or water. Shading into the garage was the stores department, in which were kept thousands of pounds’ worth of motor accessories and spare parts. The damage here —and it was confined to isolated parts of the department—was by wafer only. It is understood that the services department of the Dominion Alotors, Ltd., will be closed for a week as a result of the fire. The origin of the fire is a mystery. Particulars of insurances were not available late last night. The stock of the Dominion Motors Ltd. was insured in the Sun office for £12.500. aud in the United office for £5,000.