FIRE IN SAMOA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20989, 28 September 1931, Page 8

FIRE IN SAMOA.

COCOA PLANT DESTROYED.' LESSEE'S HEAVY LOSS. The buildings on tho Magia plantation, in Western Samoa, housing the cocoa drier and other necessary equipment were burned to tho ground on September 1. Air. P. 11. Paterson, who has the lease of the property from the New Zealand Reparation Estates, arrived homo from Apia about 5.15 in the afternoon and found dense volumes of smoke issuing from tho drier sheds. Simultaneously with his arrival the coolie labour appeared from the cocoa blocks and efforts were made to quench the blaze. Water was carried from a 1200-gallon tank, but the supply soon ran out and all that could be done was stand by and see the fire burn itself out. At about ten o'clock that night the place was but a smouldering mass. Housed in tho buildings were a Gordon drier, a cocoa grader, electric light plant, hot air furnace and fans, tool equipment, a Lister engine, and other gear that go to make up a well-equipped cocoa drying concern. The heat was so great that the bearings of the Gordon drier fused. What was onco an efficient plant was reduced to a tangled mass of twisted iron and black ash. Another loss was 80001b. of wet cocoa beans that wero drying off on a draining floor. Besides tho big loss sustained by the plant being burned out, Mr. Paterson, says the Samoa Herald, is faced with difficulties in regard to .the cocoa crop now coming to maturity. In this matter he has been assisted by Mr. P. L. A. Gotz, manager of the .Reparation Estates! who has arranged for tho Magi a, crop to be dried and graded at tho Tuanaimato plantation. Tho origin of the fire is unknown. So far as can br ascertained tho blaze was first noticed by a coolie at about a quarter to fivo o'clock. Ho raised the alarm, but the coolie labour was out in the cocoa blocks some distance away, and it was not until Mr. Paterson arrived that combined effort was made to attack the blaze. Tho plant was but partly insured and is not nearly sufficient to cover tho loss, which Mr. Paterson estimates at over £3OOO.