FIRE IN FACTORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 12

FIRE IN FACTORY

EARLY MORNING BLAZE RAPID SPREAD OF FLAMES DAMAGE TO DRYING CHAMBERS Hacks of light, inflammablo timber, and a draught of heated air greatly aided the spread of flames when a fire broke out in the drying chambers at the factory of Now Zealand Wallboards, Limited, in Balmoral Road yesterday morning. The firo was discovered at about 5,40 a.m. by tho night watchman, and the Mount Eden and Mount Roskill fire brigades were summoned. Tho long rectangular chambers were filled with wallboards being dried on tho racks with hot air passed through them by means of large electric fans. Tho flames spread with unnsual rapidity, and brigades arrived tho racks in all four chambers were ablaze, while the damp wallboards were giving off dense clouds of smoke, which greatly hindered the work of tho firemen.

The drying chambers were completely enclosed by walls of brick and wallboard, however, and this helped the firemen to prevent the fire spreading to the rest of the building. The drying chambers and contents were badly damaged, but little machinery was destroyed, and the factory is expected to resume production shortly. The plant is insured for £7OOO in tho London and Lancashire office.

MILFORD THEATRE LOSS DETAILS OF INSURANCES A twisted heap of corrugated iron and piping was all that remained yesterday of the " Green Mill " picture theatre at Milford after the fire which broke out in the early hours of tho morning had subsided. The fact that the theatre was partly surrounded by the Wairau Creek prevented the flames from spreading, and tho Takapuna brigade succeeded in saving a neighbouring storeshed housing an engine and generator, and also a motor garage. At one time a service station across the road owned by Mr. A. Cooper was endangered, but a continuous stream of water was played on tho building until the blaze in the theatre had died down. Tho fire was still smouldering 10 hours after it was discovered. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. All the furniture, together with the projecting apparatus and gymnasium appliances, owned by St. Peter's Church aud by Mr. C. J. Poore, were destroyed. The building was insured for £ISOO and the contents for £340 with tho General Accident, Fire and Life Assurance Corporation, Limited.

OUTBREAK ON VERANDAH HOUSE AT ONE TREE HILL The verandah of a large two-storeyed house in Fern Avenue, off Golf Road, One Treo Hill, occupied by Mrs. T. S. Wallace, was damaged by fire yesterday afternoou. The firo is believed to have commenced in some bamboo in front of the verandah, but it was extinguished by the Remuera and Parnell brigades before any damage was done to the interior of the house. The building was once tho clubhouse of the Maungakiekio Golf Club. . ..

HOMESTEAD DESTROYED FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY [by telegraph-—own- correspondent] TOKOMARU BAY, Friday A beautiful homestead at Tokomaru Bay, owned by Mrs. George Oates, was destroyed by fire within an hour early this morning. Mrs. Oates discovered the fire herself at 2 a.m. and immediately took her two children to safety. She called her brother-in-law, Mr. Joe Oates, whose homo is only 30 yards away, but his attempts to enter the building were frustrated by dense smoke. Volunteer helpers- could not form a bucket brigade as the house stood on a hill well back from the sea. The fire had started iu the kitchen pantry and the building was soon blazing throughout. All the lawns were burned, but a plantation of pines, although singed, was saved. During the fire the explosion .of a number of .303 cartridges awakened all residents in the vicinity. The house and contents were insured in the South British Office for £IOOO.

HOUSE AT WHANGAREI BUILDING NOT OCCUPIED [by telegraph—own correspondent] WHANGAREI, Fridny One of tho oldest houses in . Whangarei was destroyed by fire shortly after three o'clock this morning. It was a residence over, tho Hatoa River in Portland Road, owned by Mr. E. Ryan, of Whangarei, but was unoccupied. It had only recently been renovated. ' As there is no water supply over tho river, tho Whangarei fire brigade could do practically nothing to suppress tho fire. Tho bright glow from the flames made a brilliant sight in tho early morning, with the wellknown landmark Parahaki Hill lighted up in tho background. Mr. Ryan, who had been living in another house near by, is at present in tho Far North.