Te ROTI FACTORY BURNT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 February 1917, Page 8

Te ROTI FACTORY BURNT.

A big blaze. FACTORY TOTALLY MSSIROYJi]). ■The Te Roti Factory, one of the branch factories of the Kltliam Co-opei-ative Dairy Company, was totally destroyed by live yesterday morning, practically nothing being saved. It appears (hat the fire broke out at about 10 o'clock, originating in the room of the main building between t:ie iron roof and the lining. The building was composed of four fset concrete walls, with iron above, and, of course, an iron roof. The origin of the outbreak is unknown, but within two hours only the concrete walls were left, the only things not being damaged being these falls, floor and a boiler. The blaze broke out very suddenly, and although the staff at once made every effort to put it out they met with no success. The flames quickly tra-vel-ed over the whole roof. No' water pressure or hose being available the men could do nothing, and had to stand by and watch it burn. The factory was a five vat one, and the building was insured for £075 ami (lie plant for £I3OO. both in the State office.

The greatest inconvenience will be caused by this unfortunate occurrence at this period of the season, the milk supply still being heavy, three of the five vats still being in use. There are, however, several alternatives, the most likely ones being that Normanby factory will come to the rescue, or that separators will be procured. The latter could be installed in a very short period. The directors met yesterday 1o consider the psition, and no doubt some solution of the difficulty will be found. —Argus.