FIRE AT FREEZING WORKS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1929, Page 2

FIRE AT FREEZING WORKS

CON SI J )ER A BLE 1) A AIA GE. [by TELEGRAPH —PEn PRESS association.] TIM AltU, June 22. A fire at Sinithfield Freezing Works last night caused great destruction. The damage is estimated at approximately £12,000 to £15,000, although it is not yet possible to assess the exact loss. Insurances on the, portions destroyed aggregate £7,655, namely: plant £2,555 and building £4,700, all in Northern Insurance Company. It is estimated that the buildings destroyed were valued at £IO,OOO. Included in the property destroyed were 1400 carcases valued at £2,100, but these were covered by insurance. The usual practice was to remove the carcases from the cooling room to the freezer each evening, hut this was not done yesterday, with the result that they are a total loss. The blaze was a notably spectacular one. The killing season was to have closed to-day. Before the fire-fighters brought the fire completely under control the flames had spread to the roof of the freezing chambers menacing cheese, butter and meat valued at £130,000. Cossiderable water damage was done to the contents.