DAIRY FACTORY FIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22140, 20 June 1935, Page 10

DAIRY FACTORY FIRE

BUILDING DEMOLISHED RAPID SPREAD OF FLAMES INSURANCES TOTAL £4500 SOUTHERN COMPANY'S LOSS [BY TELEGRAPH —OW>- CORRESPONDENT] INVERCARGILL. Wednesday The dairy factory at Morton Mains, 17 miles from Invercargill, was totally destroyed by fire last night, the outbreak occurring at about 10 o'clock. Fanned by a strong south-west wind the flames demolished the building in a little more than an hour. By the time the alarm was given the fire had gained such a hold as to render an attempt at subduing it futile. The efforts of those who gathered at the scene were therefore concentrated on saving a residence, which is situated south of the factory site and not more than 15 yards distant. The house was badly scorched, but was not destroyed. ' Earlier in the evening a meeting of the directors of the Morton Mains Dairy Company was held in the office of the factory, the business being concluded by eight o'clock. No fire of any description was lighted while the meeting was in progress. It was evidently in the office that the fire had its origin, for'shortly after 10 o'clock the wife of the manager (Mr. George Sutherland) noticed an unusual light in the window of that particular room. The alarm was given immediately and thosa attending a lecture in a hall near bv left for the scene of the outbreak. There was no lack of volunteers for a bucket brigade, which was operated from the factory water supply, but from the first it was apparent that there was no hope of quelling the flames in the factory. The office was situated in the comer of the storeroom at the south end of the building. The storeroom contained cheese crate timber, light and inflammable, which burned fiercely, fanned by a strong wind. The building was of wood and was built 30 years ago. The annual output was 300 tons of cheese and in the height of the season there was employment for the manager and seven assistants. Yesterday had been decided upon as the last day upon which milk would be received for the 1934-3-3 season.

The insurances were £4500 on the building, plant and dwelling. Only a small quantity of cheese was on hand.