MAUNGATAPERE BLAZE.

Northern Advocate, 20 December 1919, Page 5

MAUNGATAPERE BLAZE.

DAIRY COMPANY'S STORE GONE

HEAVY LOSS,

At 5.30 this morning, Mr Baird, the manager of the Springhead Ghees- 1 Factory, detected signs of fire at the Maungatapere Co-operative Dairy Company's and at 6 o'clock Mr Clarke, the manager of the butter factory, saw the fire just breaking through: into the mai,n |bujilding. There were three safes in the building, one belonging to the post office, one owned by the dairy company, and the stor e safe. The latter was utterly destroyed, but the others were not affected, all the books and dockets being intact ) only slightly scorched. The whole buiding was destroyed, with the exception of a small and recent addition which was saved through the timely application of water. But f° r the direction of the wind the butter factory would have gone. The store was fully stocked in anticipation of the big Christmas sales. Small goods, manures, flour, grain, and sugar, wore included in tho produce destroyed.

Some mail matter has been lost, but it is not thought to he much. In the meantime the post office is being carried on in the cheese factory. The postal authorities sent men out early this morning ( and the telephone connections are all re-established.

The buildings were insured, but the amounts arc not immediately available.