Disastrous Blaze

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 287, 24 February 1928, Page 1

Disastrous Blaze

CHEESE FACTORY BURNED FIRE AT OMATA (From Our Own Correspondent) NEW PLYMOUTH, Thursday. The Royal Oak Dairy Company’s cheese factory at Omata was completely destroyed by fire early this morning. The damage amounts to several thousands of pounds. The fire was discovered at half-past one in the morning by one of the factory's assistants. It had evidently begun in the curing room, and, although everything was done to isolate it, it had too strong a hold, and the whole building was soon well alight. During the fire, acid jars exploded and a new ammonia cylinder blew a hole nine inches across through a sixinch concrete wall. The explosion threw sheets of iron high into the air, and one caught in the up»per branches of a pine tree nearby. It is thought that the fire was caused by the overheating of the motor of an electric fan, which was used in the curing room. Mr. H. Fin, the manager, said that he had been having trouble with the electric motors overheating for some time, due to the fall in voltage caused by the water shortage at the New Plymouth power house. The building was insured with the Commercial Union Office for £2,000, and the machinery and contents for £2,100 with the same office. There was a certain amount of plant destroyed that was not insured. The insurance on the produce is held by the Dairy Control Board. Another fire broke out at about 11.45 on th Q same morning, in a house a few hundred yards from the factory. No water was available and the house and most of its furniture were completely destroyed. It was the property of Mr. D. Huse, but was occupied at the time by Mr. Evan Haine, who lost nearly all his furniture. Mr. Haine’s furniture was insured for £2OO, and th© house and outbuildings which were destroyed were covered by a policy for £I,OOO in the Phoenix Office.