FIRE AT OROUA DOWNS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2371, 22 December 1921, Page 2

FIRE AT OROUA DOWNS.

CHEESE FACTORY TOTALLY DESTROYED.

At about 10 o’clock on Tuesday night the Oroua Downs cheese factory, owned by the Oroua Downs Dairy Coy., was totally destroyed by fire. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The fire was first noticed by. persons attending a school function in Hammond’s Hall, a short distance away.

Two hundred and eighty crates of cheese, valued at £2,240, were destroyed with the buildings. The insurance is £5,600, in the South British. The Company’s loss, above the insurance, is heavy. '

A temporary building is being erected to separate suppliers’ milk, while other suppliers will convey their milk to the Taikorea cheese factory, several miles distant.

The manager left the factory at 7.45 p.m., and everything was apparently safe.

Air Mills, whose business premises are next to the factory, was in the vicinity when proceeding to the hall, and there was then no sign of lire.

The glare, when first noticed by those attending the function on the varantin'll of Hammond's Hall, was taken for motor car lights. At 9.45 p.m. the building was well alight at the opposite side to the engineroom. The llnmes reached the testing room, and from there soon en-

veloped the building. 1 A band of willing helpers assisted to save Mr Alills’ store. Fortunately (here was only a slight easterly wind, otherwise there would have been a clean sweep of the adjoining buildings. The loss of the factory is keenly felt by suppliers, who are greatly inconvenienced, and will also stiller finaneia II v.