FIRE AT MOTUROA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 107, 10 May 1904, Page 2

FIRE AT MOTUROA.

THE FREEZING WORKS TOTAL4.Y OSSTROYED.

Serious Loss fop Taranaki

•lust: as we were going to press word was received that) the Taranaki Producers Freezing Works at Moturou were completely burned. An outbreak of lire was discovered at 2 o'clock in the engine room liv one of the engineers, and one of the staft immediately communicated witli flie Central Fire Station, but as thero was no water supply nothing could be done to save the building. Thero was only 11 small (juantit.v of produce in store at the time, a large shipment having been sent aw ay yesterday by the Corinna. Five trucks of butter standing on the siding were run up the line and so saved.

As already stated nothing could be done to save the works, and although several members of the brigade went out they were powerless to do anything to quell the flames, Jwhitfli made a fine Sight, and as we write are still burning strongly and showing a bright glare in the sky.

I lia ioss of the works, which are practically levelled to the grouiul, will mean much to the dairying industry in Taranaki, as almost the whole output of the northern districts was shipped through this channel.

About two years ago the dairy factories combined and bought the works, which have since been run 011 the co-operative principle, a sum of £15,000 being paid over to the ohl Freezing Works Company lor the buildings and plant.

No further particulars are available ut present, as to the present value of the works and insurances thereon. The destruction of the works is much to be regretted, as besides the actual present loss there must lie considered the inJury that will surely follow through a want of uniformity in quality ol butter and cheese when it is landed on the Home market, through the absence, even for a time, of an up-to-date ami centrally situated place 'for collecting, grading, and cooling the outputs of tiie dilTerent factories around the mountain.