PACKING SHED BURNT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 25 January 1944, Page 2

PACKING SHED BURNT

FIRE AT LOWER MOUTERE VALUABLE ORCHARD EQUIPMENT LOST A fire at Lower Moutere on Sunday afternoon totally destroyed a packing shed owned by Mr H. A. Holdaway, containing several thousand made up cases and valuable orchard equipment. Mr F. W. Tillson, who shared the packing shed, also suffered loss and it is estimated that apart from insurance cover the two orchardists will suffer a loss of &700. Grass and gum leaves had been raked up and burnt in the vicinity of the shed on Saturday but a small strip of grass leading to the shed had been left unburnt. It is thought that some smouldering material set the grass alight and that the fire spread to the shed. A high south-west wind also fanned the flames.

The fire was discovered by Mrs Holdaway and as there were no men on the property at she notified neighbours. Mr to work with a fire and other neighbours carts to deal with the fire. The Motueka Fire Brigade was summoned but the shed was beyond recovery. Efforts were concentrated on saving a shed housing a motor lorry, a whare, a neighbour’s packing shed and a nearby block of pines. A tank holding 1500 gallons of water enabled the brigade to prevent the spread of the fire. The packing shed contained 3900 made up apple cases, 400 of which belonged to Mr Tillson: 400 cases of loose fruit, of which Mr Tillson owned 225; a grader, shed equipment, four tons of manure, five bales of wrapping paper, 14 bales of case liners, £25 worth of tools, a new topdresser valued at £SO, and a spray outfit.

The insurances included £350 on the building, £llO on the grader, £45 on the cases, and several small insurances on other items.