A SERIOUS FIRE.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 840, 14 March 1903, Page 3

A SERIOUS FIRE.

TOMOANA FREEZING WORKS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, last nigh:

A fire broke out in Nelson Bros.’ freezing works at Tomoaria about 5.30 this evoning. Tho fire was discovered in tho roof of tho freezing chambers, and dospite the offorfcs of the empioyeos, who quickly ran out a largo supply of hose kept on the works for an emergency, the fire soon spread, and the works seemed likely to be completely destroyed. The refrigerating machinery was stopped and steam got up in the engine which is kept on the promises, but as the fire was gaining ground a mossago was sont to Hastings to secure the assistance of tho Hastings brigade, who were quickly on tho spot, arriving on tho scene about C p.m.

By this tiaio tho fire had crept along nearly the whole of tho roofing of the refrigerating chambers. A good supply of water was obtained from the lako at tho back of tho building, and after an hour's hard fighting with the flames tho fire was got under at about 7 p.m., though it was not until some timo after that all dunger was past. A subsequent inspection showod that although tho roof of tho refrigerating room was completely destroyed the firo bad not ponetrated the freezing chambers. Tho pumice insulation saved the building. A largo quantity of water soaked through into tho chambers, whioh were nearly full of frozon mutton. This will not cause much damage, as immediately the fire was suppressed the rofrigerators were set working to freeze tho water into iee, so that tho mutton stored at the works might bo preserved.

Tho bose kept on the works was found to bo of insufficient length, so that littlo could bo done until tho arrival of the Hastings Brigade. The origin of tho fire is unknown, but it is supposed to have been caused by a spark from tho eugino room chimney, as through tho same cause small fires havo broken out there on two formor occasions.

The amount of damage cannot be ascertained at prosont.