FIRE IN FREEZING WORKS

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVII, Issue 61, 6 February 1939, Page 3

FIRE IN FREEZING WORKS

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. MASTERTON, Last night. One of the most serious fires in the Wairarapa for the last 20 years completely gutted the slaughter, cooling, and beef rooms at Thomas Borthwick’s freezing works at Waingawa at seven o’clock on Saturday evening. Although the lire was outside the Fire Board’s area the Masterton and Carterton brigades battled for three and a-half hours against the flames, using an auxiliary water supply pumped from the rear of the burning buildings and but for their splendid efforts the Are would have swept the whole plant. The flames made a spectacular sight that drew more than 1000 motorists to the scene. It is believed that the fire originated in the drying room where the men hang their overalls over hot pipes. It is supposed that the heat ignited matches left in a pocket. The effect of the fire will be very serious on Wairarapa farmers, as this is the busiest season at the works for ten years. Officials of the firm were unable to-night to estimate the total damage. Mr P. J. Borthwiek, a director of the firm, said: “We are starting again in ten days’ time and arrangements are being made for drafting and killing elsewhere on Tuesday.” All that remained of the slaughter rooms, cooling chamber and beef room to-day was a tangled mass of twisted iron and charred woodwork. Why run the risk? Insure with the Norwich Union Fire Office. All classes of risks covered. —Pellow and Pellow. Agents, Wnipawn.*