DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MOTUEKA.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 39, 22 May 1917, Page 4

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT MOTUEKA.

PRESERVING AND EVABOBATING WORKS DESTROYED. A destructive fire occurred at.Motueka shortly after 11 o’clock on Friday night (reports the “Colonist”), whereby the premises of Messrs Parsons Bros, and Co. (Mr G. H. Budden, proprietor), carrying on the business of fruit evaporators, and Messrs Thompson and Hills’s fruit pulping works/ were/totally destroyed. Tho fire originated in Messrs Parsons Bros.' premises, where Mr U. Budden was engaged in looking after four kilns in which apples were drying. He noticed an unusual heat, and on going to investigate ho found one of the. kilns in flames and the building full of smoke. Mr Budden had some difficulty in getting downstairs, and was slightly burned about the hands and head. The flames spread rapidly, and, fanned by a south-west wind, spread to Messrs Thompson and Hills’s works, a corrugated iron structure with concrete floor, about 2!sft away. These buildings were also quickly demolished.

The MotucKa Fire Brigade were Boon on the scene, but owing to the t.tetneudous heat were unabie to draw water from an 800 gallon tank close to the buildings. Mr Budden's premises were insured in the Norwich Union office for £SOO, and there is a policy of £3OO on the plant in the same office. There was no insurance on the stock, which was valued at £(300.

Messrs Thompson and Hills’s premises and plant were valued at about £2OOO. The insurances were held by the South British Insurance Company, as follows:—Building, £700; machinery and plant, £300; stock, £.'500. Fortunately, a quantity of puip had been shipped by the firm on the previous day. There were, however, about 300 casks of pulp on the premises ready for shipment, of" which 00 were saved by willing helper.?. It is underst that Messrs Thompson and Hills will commence rebuilding almost immePatcly.