SERIOUS LOSS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24417, 1 October 1940, Page 6

SERIOUS LOSS

FIRE IN DYE WORKS VALUABLE STOCKS DESTROYED NO CHANCE OF REPLACEMENT Serious loss to a number of firms from Christchurch to Invercargill was suffered when fire caused extensive damage to the premises of the City Dye Works, between George and King streets, early yesterday morning. Large stocks of dyes thal cannot be replaced during the war were destroyed, with the result that the firm will not be able to carry out an important part of its activities —the dyeing of piecegoods for firms from Christchurch southwards. But apart from the great loss to the City Dye Works, there was well over 7000 yards of cloth belonging to various South Island firms and hundreds of articles of clothing belonging to private people completely destroyed. Clothing is accepted by the firm at the owners’ risk, but it has been its practice to have an insurance policy on these goods, although the cover will pay only a proportion of the customers’ losses. The loss of the cloth is all the more serious as it will be difficult to replace it because of import restrictions. But it is the City Dye Works that will be the heaviest losers, for the firm was carrying an unusually large stock of dyes and they were by no means fully covered by insurance. This loss and the reduction of its future operations are heavy blows. A Good Save Great though the damage was, the City Fire Brigade effected a good save of the building. The fire was blazing to the roof when, at 2.55 a.m., a milkman gave the alarm. Four machines were sent out—three from the Central Station and one from South Dunedin, and the eight officers and 18 men had the fire under control within 15 minutes. The position of the premises made it difficult to get at the fire from all sides. A lead was taken through the roof and on two other sides of the building. A stock of latex and crepe rubber owned by McKinlays Footwear Company, Ltd., to whom part of the premises was let, at one time was blazing fiercely on top of the water. Not a stick of timber is left in the building that does not show deep charring. Water pressure was reported to be extremely good at the time of the save. Other Firms Suffer McKinlays were the- losers of a stock of silk thread and pom-poms for slipper-making valued at several hundred pounds. These items, too, will be difficult to replace. The main building of this company, situated across a right-of-way, was damaged slightly by heat. The fire was caused by steamheating plant in the Dye Works premises. It was not reported until it was well alight. “ It was a typical week-end fire,” commented Superintendent Price, of the Fire Brigade. “It had a chance to smoulder away and get a good hold.” Another loser to a slight extent was Mr S. J. Scoones, a garage proprietor in King street.