FIRES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18757, 14 April 1923, Page 5

FIRES

BIG OUTBREAK IN WELLINGTON LPer Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 13. A Are occurred shortly after five o’clock this morning in a fourstoreyed building owned by the Wellington Woollen Manufacturing Co , Ltd., in Willeston Street, adjoining the company’s main offices. The upper two stories were occupied by the Woollen Company and the two ground floors were leased to the British Empire Trading Co. The origin of the outbreak is unknown, as the fire had a good hold when the brigade received the alarm. The Woollen Company’s portion of the building was destroyed by fire and the" lower floors swamped by water and suffered slightly through buring materials falling from above. The insurances are not yet available.

PUKEKOHE BUTTER-FACTORY BURNED AUCKLAND, April 13. The N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Co.’s butter factory, a mile from Pukekohe, containing a big stock of pro ducts and plant, was destroyed by a fire, which started at 11 p.m., and burned all night. The nearest adequate water supply is a quarter of a mile distant, but the local supplies enabled the brigade to save the dwelling house occupied by the employees. Several motor lorries were also saved. The insurances on the buildings amount to £4500, on the products £6200, and £lo,'ooo on the plant in the Eagle, Star, and Dominions Co. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The butter factory at Pukekohe was one of the largest and oldest established butter factories in the pro vince. During the season 1921-22 the output of the factory for 12 months was 2210 tons of butter. This season was showing a substantial increase in output over last year’s figures. The New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company has recently purchased a site at Paerata, three miles north of Pukekohe, and the question was to be decided whether the Pukekohe factory should be moved to the new site or another factory erected there. AT WAIPUKURAU. WAIPUKURAU, April 13. A fire at 6.30 last night gutted a wooden building in Main Street, oc cupied by the Public Trust Office, Stewart’s auction mart, and Miss Barnes (milliner). The blaze started in Miss Barnes’ shop, whiph was completely gutted, and the stock, valued at over £lOOO, was destroyed. Stew art’s premises werei gutted, and £5OO to £6OO damage done. The Public Trust books were saved. The building was insured for £950. The other insurances are unavailable.

The brigade extinguished the fir) in fifteen minutes.