FIRES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 258, 18 October 1928, Page 1

FIRES.

TOKOROA FACTORY. > Assistants’ Loss. On Saturday afternoon, about two o’clock, a fire broke out in the assistants’ quarters at the Tokoroa Cooperative Dairy Company’s factory, which resulted in these quarters being burned and all personal effects totally destroyed. The outbreak was first noticed by Mr. J. Harris, who was some distance away, and by the time he had arrived on the scene, and had given the alarm, the fire had obtained a strong hold. The manager and the three assistants immediately rushed to the building with the object of saving the contents, but their efforts were unavailing in the face of the intense heat, and the building, which was of totara, was soon reduced to ashes.

The factory assistants, Messrs. A. McDonald, D. Voice and D. Ingle, lost their entire belongings, which were unfortunately uninsured. The building, which is owned by the Dairy Company, was insured in the Commercial Union. While endeavouring the force the bedroom window of the “ bach,” Mr. D. Voice had th 3 misfortune to sever an artery in a wrist on the broken glass. Mr. Braden, the manager, | rendered first aid, and later Mr. Voice was conveyed to Putaruru for medical attention. DWELLING BURNED. A Narrow Escape. . At Te Whetu in the early hours of Thursday, a dwelling occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Farrell and their two children was burned to the ground, the occupants barely escaping with their lives. The house, which was of four rooms, burned fiercely, being reduced to ashes within two hours. So fast did the flames spread from the time of discovery, that the occupants had no time to save anything, and left the building clad only in their night attire, by meajis of a window, shortly before the roof fell in. The cause of the fire is unknown. The Farrell family were cared for by willing neighbours for the remainder of the night.