A DISASTROUS FIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 606, 7 December 1909, Page 3

A DISASTROUS FIRE.

Profound regret is expressed on all sides at the disastrous fire which on Saturday afternoon last destroyed the rope and twine factory ol Messrs Wm. Ross and Son, Ltd. The works from an industrial point of vievy, are the most important in Foxton, giving employment to 40 hands, the majority of whom will be thrown out of employment for at least two or three months, or until the works are re-erected. In order to cope with orders the works up to the date of the fire, have been going night and day. , As we pointed out in Saturday ’s issue the origin of t the fire is shrouded in mystery. I The hands knocked off at 1 r a.m. on Saturday and cleared up. The accountant and ■Mr Rough, one of the engidebrs, were about the factory* till after 1 p.m. A carter tipped a load of coke at the factory .at about 2.30, but never noticed hifiy fire. The first to notice the blaze was Mr Johnson, who, while driving past the works on the mail coach to Levin shortly after 2.40, saw the flames bursting through the windows.

The whistle at Mr Rose’s mill gave the alarm which was answered by the town fire bell. At the time of the outbreak, Mr Alex. Ross, foreman of the works, and Mr Rough, engineer, were at the new mill at the rear of the works. They were alarmed by the whistle at Mr Rose’s mill and looked for a fire at one of the mills on the river bank. They were soon made aware, however, of the true locality of the fire, and when they arrived on the scene, the flames, assisted by a strong easterly breeze,had the mastery of the building. The fire licked up the works with remarkable rapidity. Efforts were made to save the office and stores. All the books and furniture were safely removed from the former building which was saved only after great difficulty. The store, containing a quantity of twine and raw material, was also saved. In conversation with Mr Alex. Ross, our representative was informed that at first he was of opinion that certain of the machinery would again be got into action. That was before the corrugated iron was removed, baton closer examination it was found that the copper and cast iron bearings had been melted and the falling shafting had wrought irreparable damage. Mr Ross could not assign any cause for the outbreak. There was no heat or generators or any combustible material at the spot where the fire started, i.e. the north-west corner of the building. The loss to the company is very considerable, approximately £7OOO. The building and plant was valued at and the insurances, which on such works are very difficult to effect, ran into Risks' were held as follows Plant, Atlas, ; Norwich Union, ,£1100; Guardian, Phoenix, ,£500; Guardian, ; Yorkshire, total, insurance, £7OOO. A band of willing helpers rendered all the assistance possible to save the outbuildings and their efforts were rewarded with success. Agents of the insurance companies interested are at present in Foxton, together with Mr K. C. Morpeth, secretary of the Underwriters’ Association. It is intended to commence the re-erection of the works almost immediately and the firm have already cabled for new machinery. A prolonged sitting of the Board of Directors was held to-day, when details as to future action were discussed. The firm has received 50 telegrams from customers throughout the Dominion, expressing regret at the serious loss entailed. We understand that the future works will not be all erected under one roof for obvious reasons. ■ At the time of the outbreak Mr Wm. Ross was in Auckland, and he armed home on Monday eveniug. In common with townspeople this paper tenders its sympathy with the firm for the great loss it has sustained, and hopes that a new and flourishing factory will sphinx-like arise out of the ashes of the building destroyed.