DISASTROUS FIRE

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22786, 10 January 1944, Page 4

DISASTROUS FIRE

Wool-cleaning Store

VALUABLE MACHINERY’ DESTROYED

(N.Z.P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, Jan. 7

A disastrous fire which broke out in the wool cleaning and drying store of Thos. Borthwick and Sons’ meat freezing works at Waitara this morning demolished the main two-storey building of that sections of the works and gutter two other single storey bays adjoining. The damage will run to several thousand pounds. The buildings themselves represent a considerable amount, but the contents, including expensive plant and stocks, are by far the greatest loss. Killing proceeded as usual to-day and every effort is to be made to maintain production and to keep faith with farmers. Tire fire is not expected to affect work to any extent. The buildings affected involved the works in a temporary loss of approximately 24,000 feet of floor space. In the stores burnt were about 1200 bags of lime, 1000 wool packs. 119 drums of sodium, 64 bales of wool, and about 30,0001 b loose wool (representing two days’ killing). 13,044 lamb and 1209 sheep pelts, 6437 green pelts, and 2524 skins. Among the plant damaged by fire were two Petrie wool driers, one of which was a recent installation.