£8000 FIRE LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25345, 29 October 1945, Page 4

£BOOO FIRE LOSS

SOUTHLAND TIMBER MILL VALUABLE PLANT RUINED (0.C.) INVERCARGILL, Sunday The Tuatapere timber dressing factory of Messrs W. H. Bircli and Co. lias been destroyed by fire, the loss amounting to £BOOO. The main timber stocks, valued at £20.000, were not damaged. It is thought the fire was caused by a spark blown from an incinerator used for burning tailings. There was a, high wind at the time and the flames spread rapidly, destroying the building in a very short time. The factory, which was built about 15 years ago, contained much valuable plant, including a selfcentring saw believed to be the only one of its type in New Zealand. The fire also destroyed about 1000 cheese crates, a consignment of cheese crate battens intended for the North Island, and a quantity of dressed timber which was to have been used for the construction of houses at Gore. The building and its contents were covered by insurance amounting to £4OOO. It is intended _to rebuild the factory as soon as possible after the area has been cleared. The possibility of salvaging some of the plant will be investigated.

POTATO PRICES DROP CONCERN OF GROWERS IMPORTS FROM AUSTRALIA (0.C.) GISBORNE, Sunday The opinion that the importations of Australian potatoes by the Internal Marketing Division were detrimentally affecting the sale of new Dominion crops, causing a collapse of the market price to approximately £lO under the Government ceiling, was expressed by Gisborne merchants. There was every indication of a considerable further drop. The Government fixed the ceiling price at £3O a ton to growers, but potatoes were selling in Wellington at 2Jd a pound, and, after deductions for freight and other charges, the net return to farmers was under £2O a ton. With increasing quantities coming from Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Pukekohe, Hamilton and Otaki, there was every prosnect of a further price decline, and as tucre was no guarantee or protection from the Government, Gisborne growers have had to accept what the market can absorb and afford to pay. It is estimated that over 500 acres of new potatoes are growing in the district, and so far large quantities have been railed to all parts of the North Island. The merchants suggested that, as the Government had cancelled most of the growers' contracts and was paving compensation for othpr vegetable lines, the same principle should he applied to potato growers, who had increased production at the Government's request. WIND AND RAIN WEEK-END CONDITIONS Boisterous weather prevailed in the Auckland Provinco during the weekend and heavy rain squalls were experienced in several areas. In Auckland the sky was overcast throughout the weekend and light rain fell on Saturday. The strong westerly wind, veering to north yesterday, was accompanied by occasional showers in the morning and steady rain fell in the evening. Conditions on the harbour were unpleasant. The stormy weather and frequent squalls at Hamilton during the weekend resulted in all outdoor sports fixtures being postponed, and at Rotorua yesterday ram fell during the unveiling of the memorial bell to the late Mr Tai Mitchell. A- message from Taupo yesterday stated that the rain was -needed there to replenish the water supply. Most of the tanks in the town had become depleted and in some cases water was oeine; carried from the lake. It also cleaned away from roofs and paths a heavy layer of ash which recently fell from Mount Ruapohti. THIS WEEK'S COUPONS Ration coupons available this week arc: — Meat, (ration Is 8d weekly, H coupons sd, others fld; child's ration, lid weekly, J coupon sd). —Nos. 52 in old book, and 1 in new book. Butter (ration 6oz weekly, each coupon Boz). —Nos. 1 to 3, available until November 25.

Sugar (ration 31b monthly, each coupon 1207,).—N05. 1 to 4, available until November 25.

Tea (ration Boz monthly, each coupon 2oz). —Nos. 1 to 4, available until November 25.

Petrol.—No. 4, double face value, available until October 31, and No. 5, double face value, available from November 1 until the end of December. A reduction of Id in the value of H and J meat coupons will take effect on Thursday, November 1, and thereafter the value of each of these coupons will he 4d instead of sd. The weekly meat ration will thus be reduced to Is 7d and the child's ration to lOd. Consumers, if they wish, can have the advantage of the extra Id by using the coupons available before the reduction takes place.