FIRE AT PUMICE WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1917, Page 2

FIRE AT PUMICE WORKS.

LARGE BUILDING BURNED. Auckland,' Oct. 4. A fire which occurred at the works of the Firth Pumice Company, near Ohinewai, Lower Waikato, on Tuesday, occasioned considerable loss. The engines and the principal portion of the machinery, it is believed, escaped damagej but the building in which the outbreak originated was destroyed. The fire broke out about 3 p.m. in a drying-room, which contained a large rotary furnace. The building was about 70 feet in height, and when the roof became ignited it was found necessary in the absence of water, to pull the structure down in order to prevent the spread of the fire. The machinery, was protected by being hastily covered'with bags of pumice. It has iiot yefe been uncovered, but as far as 1s known it lias, sustained no material damage. Two large hoppers, were destroyed. The stock is undamaged.» The fire continued to burn during the night. The building destroyed was.fully covered by insurance, but the interruption to business, it is stated, will represejii a considerable loss to the company. A smaller plant on an adjoining site, which had been idle during overhaul for about a year, probably will be ready for use e.gain in a few days, but,as ; it'is only about one-third the size of that, thrown out. of commission by the fire, a difficulty in maintaining the normal output is anticipated. There is no definite information as to the cause of the fire.