MOTOR-LORRY BURNED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18601, 8 January 1924, Page 6

MOTOR-LORRY BURNED.

BENZINE LOAD IGNITES.

A SPECTACULAR FIRE. [BI . TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] GTSBORNE. Monday. A lorry load of benzine was destroyed to-day near the Bridge Hotel, Matawhero. The hotel -was also - in some danger of destruction. The benzine was being conveyed to the Public Works dump at Tarewa for the use of the lorries. Mr. H. B. Gardiner, in whose lorry it was placed, had alighted and stopped his engine. When preparing to restart he cranked the engine once and a back-fire occurred. The next instant the lorry and its load were wrapped in flames, which rose to a considerable height and gave off a tremendous heat. A log lying in a paddock adjacent to the hotel was ignited by the heat, and the grass in the paddock also caught fire, but was beaten out. Had a supply of sand or dust been available it might have been possible to extinguish the fire while it was still in its early stages, but as it was the lorry owner and others who hurried to the xcene could do nothing but stand hack and watch the flames consume the load and lorry. Some delay was caused to general traffic on the road. Blazing benzine flowed for some feet all round the illfated conveyance. It is presumed that a leaking tin had been stacked over the exhaust pipe, and that the spirit was ignited by the back-fire. The lorry was insured for £550 with the Northern office.