FELLMONGERY BURNT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 7

FELLMONGERY BURNT

BIG FIRE AT TIMARU (Per Press Association.) TIMARU, Aluy 12. What was this morning the fellmongery department of the Smithfield Freezing Works is now a mass of smouldering ruins as the result of one uf the most destructive fires that have occurred in Timaru for some considerable time. Two minutes before 10 o’cluvk Mr D. Yoycc, employed in the fellmongery department, noticed smoko issuing from tho huge wool drying machine. lie immediatidy gave the alarm, but before tho hose could bo brought into operation the dryer burst into flames and within live minutes the whole of the fellmongery department was a blazing inferno. The fire fighting equipment at the works was soon brought into commission, but it proved totally ina lequatc to the task. The Timaru Eire Brigade with two engines, arrived 10 minutes after the alarm and the superintend ent and men begun to fight the fire from three sides and succeeded in preventing rhe. flames from spreading to the freezing chambers, which contained hundreds of careases of frozen meat, and two tallow departments. ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE [ Per Press Aaseciniion. ] TIMARU, May 12. Tho damage at the Smithfield fire is estimated at £20,000. The brigade, by driving a wedge from the south and north side, cut the lire in two, making a great save. But for this lino of action the tallow department would undoubtedly have gone. Tho insurance on the buildings was £11.150 and on the plant £10,575. Tho wool and pelts lost were covered by a marine policy, but the amount is nor iiscertainable.