DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1921, Page 4

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

WHANGAREI FREEZING WORKS. DAMAGE AMOUNTS TO £100,600. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Whangarei, Last Night. A fire which caused damage estimated approximately at £lOO,OOO occurred on* Saturday afternoon at the freezing works of W. and R. Fletcher, Ltd., situated at Reotahi (Whangarei Heads) Work for the week ceaeed at noon, and most of the employees were away from the locality at the time of the outbreak, which one of the watchmen discovered at half-past two. The flames then had a good hold, and despite the full use of fire fighting appliances the slaughterhouse and hide floor, with frozen stock and appertaining machinery, and also all offices and a storeroom, were completely destroyed. A moderate wind blowing kept the flames away from“other buildings, which otherwise might have been involved. The cause is unaccountable, unless th« possibility of the fusing of an electric wire. The fire means the Stoppage of operations for an indefinite period alftT a large number of men will be thrown out of employment. The insurances are unknown here, as they are conducted through the Auckland offices of the company.