FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3495, 8 March 1921, Page 22

FIRES.

DISASTROUS OUTBREAK NEAR NAPIER. NAPIER, February 27. A disastrous fire, involving the loss of about 21,000 eases of benzine, the property of the Hawke’s Bay Trading Company, and £6OOO worth of wool and wool-scouring apparatus, occurred at M’Donald’s wool wash on the River Bend road, at an early hour this morning. When discovered the fixe had a good hold, and it was impossible to eave any thing. _ The efforts of neighbours caved a bouse in tire vicinity, which, had not the wind been in the right direction, would certainly have been burnt. Scouring operations have not been in progress for some past, and the absence of fires of any description makes the origin of this outbreak a mystery. There were several bales of wool on the premises, and these were uninsured. The amount of the insurance on the benzine was unascertainable, but it s understood to be in the vicinity of £50,000. The plant was insured for £3OOO. The conflagration presented a great sight, and the fire is still burning fiercely. FIRE IN A CHURCH. INN jiRCARGILL, February 27. A fire broke out last night in the Esk Street Baptist Church, and before the fames were suppressed an organ valued at £4OO was completely destroyed, and the interior of the building- extensively damaged. Details of the insurances were not available. FRUIT FACTOR Y DESTROYED. NELSON, March 2. There was a serious fire near Motueka wharf last evening when the fruit and byproducts factory erected by the Nelson Distuefc bruit Packers (Ltd.), and now owned o.v the Government's Agricuif.ua] Department, and reasecl to T. Houlker, was totally destroyed. Ibis is reported to ne the largest “Ult by-products factory south of the line. Jhc building contained a largs quantity of ■valuable machinery, some 500 cases of dried fruit, and a arge quantity of vinegar, all ot which were destroyed. SCOW MO A DAMAGEDTAURANGA, March 2. It was reported here this morning- that B i°- VV ~^ oa caught fire when lying at the W hakatamararna wharf in Tauranga Harbour on Monday night. Toe fire was discovered n (he fore part at 7 o clock, and was not got under till midnight. The damage was confined to the interior cl the fore part, and the hull was undamaged. Temporary repairs will bo effected here, and •pi 13 fcher ' to be towed i > Auckland. The Moa carries timber from hers to Auckland. and is owned by the Ley-land, O’Brien Company. WELLINGTON, March 5. About, midnight on Saturday a fire broke out in an eleven-roomed house and grocery shop owned by Moore, Wilson, and (Jo., and occupied by Lawrence John Halpin. Two of tho rooms and their contents were badly oamaged, and another was injured by heat The insurance is £1725 in tho Atlas'Office!