DISASTROUS FIRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2359, 15 January 1915, Page 6

DISASTROUS FIRE

—-—» N.Z. PORTLAND CEMENT WORKS ' DESTROYED DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT £80,000 '• 1 ■ i IBr Telegraph.—Freis Association.] ■ W hangarfli, January 14. A ■ big disaster befell tie Limestone Island Cement Works, the property of the New Zealand Portland Cement Company, shortly after midnight, the most important parts of the works being totally destroyed by fire. The demolished portion covers over an acre and includes all the important machinery. Three reciprocating engines totalling 500 horse-power, and a turbine engine of 500 horse-power were utterly ruined. The'fire broke out between the engine100m and the mill, when an. explosion appeared to occur on the engine-room' ■wall. The destroyed buildings were all of wooden framework covered with corrugated iron and the whole place was immediately ablaze. There was no time to shut off the engines, and the men had to rush out to offect an escape. In order to save the offices and stores part of the. building was blown off the burning portion by means of gelignita and . this proved successful. The fire burned until about 5 o'clock this morning._ All the employees helped willingly m the exhausting work of salving aS rm muc ti • property as possible , ero , was a stock of 300 tons of coal on the island and "this became ignited and will probably, burn for dayß. Tho number of ~ men employed at the works was about 130. Many of the men are married and have families, so that tne island community which was solely dependont oh the works numbers probably over 200. No one was injured. The men working at the time .numbered about 40. A rough estimate of the damage is £80,000. The works were well covered by insurance,, but information as to companies concerned is not forthcoming at the present juncture. A big shipment was being prepared for Queensland at the time of the fire. The only hope lies in rebuilding.' : . It is stated locally that the buildings and plant are insured in the New Zealand office for £50,700, distributed among the various companies carrying on insurance business in New Zealand. Amongst the companies which hold portions of the risk are.:—Phoenix, £5000; Royal Exchange, £3000; Guardian, £3000; Commercial Union, £1500; Queensland, £1500. ' The company's plant consists of buildings, machinery, kilns, and a' wharf, with every adjunct and accessory for the manufacture' of many tons of cement weekly. A first-class plant on the latest lines for the manufacture of Portland cement was erected several years ago.