BLAZE AT WAIPUKURAU.

Waipukurau Press, 5 June 1922, Page 2

BLAZE AT WAIPUKURAU.

DAIRY FACTORY DESTROYED. HEAVY STOCKS AND PLANT LOST. A serious fire occurred at the WaipnkurUH dairy factory shortly before 4 o’clock on Sunday morning .and resulted irt the total destruction of the building, .plant, factory supplies and about 120 boxes of butter, together with a motor shed and two Republic lorries, a Ford truck and a Ford ear. It’ho insurances totalled approximately £5600, and Mr. J. W. Roper, the owner of the factory, estimates hrs lass at £4OOO over and above the insurances

The factory, a wooden structure, was situated about a mile from Waipukurau. Operations were finished at the factory at mid-day on Saturday, but a light fire was kept under the boilers during the afternoon for some washing up, and Mr. Roper and Mr. Wickeden (the butter-maker) left the premises with everything apparently secure, about six o’clock. There was then little more then dying ambers under the boilers. Mr. Wii-kenden, who lives close by, was awuketed a little before 4 o’clock on Sunday morning, and found the factory premises fully ablaze. He promptly communicated with Waipukurau, awakened members of the factory stall in the neighbourhood and it v/as not long before a fair number of people were about to give a hand in any salvaging possible. The outbreak, however, had a strong hold, the inflammable material giving an impetus, and the interior whs a roaring furnace, while fanned by a breeze the flames had spread to the large motor shed. Tt was practically impossible to save anything other than the contents of the office, which was the last to go, and the safe was rolled out and all papers and books rescued. Fire brigadesmen from Waipukurau wont out, but Were unable to be of service

The factory was equipped with an up-to-date butter-making and refrigerating plant, and during the last eighteen moiths Mr. Roper hrtd made substantial additions to the building and machinery, enabling ih» factory to deal with an output of four hundred tons for the season. Although the milk supply had gone off the factory up to last week was turning out from three to four tons weekly.

The factory supplies included large coasignmenfs of requirements got in during the week rind wore regarded as sufficieat for the balance of the season. All this was clestrcfyed. All the motor vehicles were in good order and through being left out in the yard on account 'of the shed being full another Republic lorry was saved. The fire spread to tlio motor shed before it was possible to get any of the motors out. A benzine shed further away escaped but a. large quantity of benzine was removed to safety in case the building was ignited by sparks or the terrific, heat of the fire.

ThC fire insurance policies were all in the South British Office and include: £l2OO on the building, about £2500 on the plant. £l5OO on the lorries and motor car and £4OO on the stock.

Mr Roper has made arrangements to continue the collection of cream from suppliers and will send it away to Palmerston North' for manufacture. He al-o intends to proceed at an early date with the re-erection of the factory and to bo fiwly for operations next season.