FIRE IN NEWMARKET

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 517, 21 November 1928, Page 16

FIRE IN NEWMARKET

BARREL FACTORY BURNED NEARLY £4,000 DAMAGE DONE Just before midnight last night fire broke o v ut in a barrel factory in Gillies Avenue, next to the Newmarket school, and before it could be suppressed damage estimated at between £3,500 and £4,000 had been done. The factory, which is owned by Mr. P. G. Wolfe, of 9 Inkerman Avenue, Onehunga, was built of concrete blocks and corrugated iron. It was filled with completed barrels, halffinished barrels, and materials for making barrels, and held some valuable machinery. This machinery, which was worth £ 2,000, was completely destroyed. The fire lasted for over an hour, and the dried timber burned very fiercely. The Newmarket Fire Brigade was able, however, to save a big stack of timber near the building as well as a motor-lorry stored inside. Two engines from the city station also turned out, but were unable to do anything About 200 people watched the fire. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. There had been no fire on the premises since mid-day An employee, Mr. Arthur Weaver, who was the last person to leave the building, saw that everything was in good order at nine o’clock. The building and contents are insured in the Royal and South British Offices for a total of £3,000.