FIRES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 12, 15 January 1915, Page 2

FIRES.

CEMENT WORKS DESTROYED. IPbe Prism Association.J Whangarei, January 11. A big disaster befell the Limestone Island cement works, property of the .New Zealand Portland Cement Company, shortly after midnight, the most important parts' of the works ouing,totally destroyed by fire. The demolished portion covers over an acre, and includes all the important machinery. Three reciprocating, engines, totalling 500 horse-power, and a turbine engine of 500 horse-power were utterly ruined. The fire broke out between the engine-room and the mill, when an explosion appeared to occur on the engine-room wall. The destroyed buildings were all of wooden framework covered with corrugated iron, and the whole place was immediately ablaze. There was no time to shut off the engines, and the men had to rush to effect their escape. In order to save the offices and stores, part of the building was blown up, and this proved successful. The fire burned until about 5 o’clock this morning. All the employees helped vigorously in the exhausting

work of salving as much property as possible. There was a stock of 300 tons of coal on the Island, and this became ignited, and will probably burn for days. The number of men employed is about 130. Many of the men arc married, and have families, so that the Island community, which was solely dependent on the works, numbers probably over 200. No one was injured. The men working at the time numbered about 40. A rough estimate of the damage is £BO,OOO. The works were well covered by insurance.