Flora Soapworks Destroyed.

Manawatu Herald, 17 February 1900, Page 3

Flora Soapworks Destroyed.

» A little after 6 o'clock on Thursday morning a boy named Carberry, who was then passing the Flora Soapworks, observed smoke issuing from the building. He at once gave the alarm to Mr W. G. Goss, an employees in charge of the factory, and woke him up. Within a few minutes the local firemen came, in obedience to the summons, and soon the inhabitants of Petone were out to witness the conflagration. "The engine was smartly handled by Captain Austin and bis men, but the water supply was anything but satisfactory, and until the hose was connected "with the waterpipes at the Petone Workshops there was practically no supply of water. The copious supply from the works was rather late to be of service beyond protecting neighbours' properties. The fire spread with amazing rapidity. In an incredibly short time the roof fell in with a loud crash; For a moment an almost solid column of dense black smoke hung over the building, then a flame shot up with a roar nearly 200 ft into the air, presenting a magnificent spectacle. Curious and beautiful effects were witnessed by the crowd as the fire attacked the chemicals, the burning mass presenting a rare pyrotechnic display. With such a combustible stock, the fire soon burnt itself out. I The firemen, however, managed to J save something like £2000 worth of chemicals, and as the company has taken the old Petone Brewery in which to continue work as well as it can, these will come in useful. The value -of buildings,- machinery and stock destroyed are put down at £13,---000, and as the insurances only amount to £6200, a heavy loss has been sustained by the company. About sixty hands were employed, and the loss of employment will be keenly felt. The cause of the fire is not known. — -N.Z. Times.