Northland’s Largest Butter Box Factory Destroyed By Fire

Northern Advocate, 1 April 1937, Page 5

Northland’s Largest Butter Box Factory Destroyed By Fire

[Special to ",Northern Advocate .”l KOHUKOHU, This Day, rpuE K.D.V. box mill, plant and buildings, including a general store and contents were completely destroyed by fire early this morning. Over half a milliion feet of stacked timber in the yards was not affected.

The mill, which was the largest of its kind in the North, had a capacity of 15,000 superficial feet per day. It supplied boxes to half a dozen of the leading dairy factories in the North, some of which gre in very short supply-’ ;■ ' ■ ■' ■■■:■

Early this morning Mr A. J. Murdoch, chairman of the New .Zealand Dairy Control Board, who is resident in Whangarei, was acquainted with the position, and is arranging ah interview with Mr T. C. Brash, secretary of the board, who will arrive here this afternoon as a member of the special committee which will investigate' application for a fertiliser works in Whangarei.

Factory Requirements From Auckland. ~

However, the Kohukohu manager for K.D.V, Boxes, Mr ,W. J.vR. Smith, unformed the, _■‘Advocate’’: In "a special interview; this morning that dairy companies need, have no cause for anxiety, as arrangements were being made for the, company’s Morningsice factory to take up the running and supply all requirements.

There is no clue as to the .cause of the disaster. Flames were first noticed issuing from the large .stack of buildings right on the Kohukohu waterfront by residents of the-town between 3.150 and 2.45 o’clock this morning.

The precincts of the mill were deserted at the time, but a large crow;d soon' gathered. However, with no water supply available, nothing could be done to check the flames. Among the early arrivals were Mr George Andrewes and his son Lance, and Mr Meyers, a school teacher, who formed a bucket brigade} and, working in the face of terrific heat, saved a detached dwelling occupied by an employee of the company. Willing Band Of 'Workers. The house, which was occupied by Mr. C, Gunby, was only 40 feet from' the fire. The willing band of workers quickly removed the furniture and concentrated on the saving of the building, using water from nearby tanks. * i Mr Smith this morning paid a special tribute to the good and courageous work done by these men and others who came to their,assistance. A six-wheel, lorry, owned by Mr. G. Richmond was also destroyed. Fortunately, there was .no breeze whatsoever, and this fact prevented the destruction of nearby dwellings and stacked timber, which practically surrounded the mill.

Store. This was completely destroyed. Mr. Downs estimates his loss at & 1000 and is a heavy .loser, as his stocks were < not insured.:; > ■. ■ Reduced To Ashds In Short Time. ' The mill, plant and store were ail housed under the one roof, making the largest biiilt-over space in the Hokianga. The thousands of feet of dry timber acted as tinder to the flames, which reached a great height, and were reflected across the arm of the harbour. 7 The whole structure was reduced to ashes in an incredibly short time;

Small stocks of made boxes were being carried! These were stored in the building, and were part of the loss. The , miil also supplied rimu, ttiata and kauri for general building, shipping large quantities of timber to the city, ■' ■ - V The half million rfeet of stacked

timber which escaped comprises about equal parts of kahikatea ,for • butter boxes and general building , lines; , , , About 40 meh were employed at the works, which were equipped; With modern plant and the loss of the factory is a' severe one to the district as it manufactures thousands of butter boxes annually for use by northern dairy factories. Prior to K.D.V. Boxes Ltd,, of Morningside, Auckland, taking control the mill was known as King’s mill, and had ibng been a familiar landmark pn .the Hokianga, the home of New Zealand’s timber industry. v

The insurance is'for £ 3500 on, the portion that has been destroyed, and the estimated damage that has been done, according to the meagre information the Auckland office has received, is between £. 6500 and £7OOO.

Situated in the mill buildings was a general store occupied by Mr. Thos. Downs, and known as the Workers’