DAIRY FACTORY BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17113, 19 March 1919, Page 8

DAIRY FACTORY BURNED.

FIRE NEAR TE PUKE. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. COMPANY'S HEAVY LOSS. A firo was resixmsiblo for Iho total destruction last week of the Bay of Plenty Dairy Association's butter factory, situated about half a mile from Te Me. How the outbreak occurred is a matter for conjecture. When it was first noticed by Mr. Luke, the manager, at about 7.30 o'clock, it had obtained such a hold that he deemed it practically impossible to savo anything. Fortunately tho night was calm, or otherwise great difficulty would hnvo been experienced in saving the adjoining | , buildings, ono of which was used as tho; i company's office, another as tho men's quarters, whilo the third was stored with benzine. The factory may bo regarded as a total wreck, all that was eaved being tho engino and boilor, pump, cream vat«, and churn, i and the latter were somewhat charred. In 'addition to tho machinery destroyed, a churning of cream worth about £200 was lost, and a large quantity of stores, includ- ; ing a heavy stock of parchment paper. ' The butter in ccol store was removed to I an insulated truck on tho railway. The company is a heavy loser. There I was an insurance of £900 on tho building, • while the plant was insured to the extent ■ of about £3000, but to replace everything I will probably cost an extra £2500.