FIRE AT TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1516, 23 November 1886, Page 2

FIRE AT TEMUKA.

',A fire broke out in the Temuka Linseed Factorj last Saturday morning at about 8.15, which in a few minutes completely demolished the first building that was erected. At that hour two boya were employed in the building at the scutching machine, and as one was lifting the flax from behind the teaser he noticed the fire. The alarm wai given immediately, but before some men who were working a few yards away arrived the whole place was in flames. Flax and tow was lying about in all directions, and in the twinkling of an eye the whole of the inside was ablaie. All bands were immediately on the spot, but though there was a plentiful supply of water in the retting pits a few yards distant all efforts to subdue the flames proved abortive. Large quantities of water were poured on it with buckets, and a dozen hand-grenades also burst but to no avail, In a few minutes the woodwork of the building was on fire, and in a very short time the roof col* lapsed. Meanwhile Mr James Paterson rode into town, and informed Mr David Henry, Captain of the Fire Brigade, of what had occurred. Captain Henry ordered Foreman Surridge to ring the bell, and in seventeen minutes afterwards the fire brigade with their engine And boss were at the Factory. They got any amount of water to work with, and they commenced to play on the fire, which after some time they succeeded in subduing. Still before reaching there the principal part of the mischief was done, but no one was at fault for the fire spread no rapidly that it was impossible for the brigade to reach there in time to save the building. The brigade, however, did good service There was a large quantity of flax—about 30cwt we believe—in the building at the time, and the brigade saved the most of this. It was so closely packed that the fire did not penetrate through it before it was extinguished by the water poured on it by the brigade. It was fortunate the morning was calm, otherwise the V damage would have been much large**/ Within ten or twelve yards of the building were several stacks of flax, and if the wind had been high sparks would doubtless have set fire to them, the origin of the fire is unknown, but it is generally supposed to have been caused by a spark produced by a , small stone striking against ooe of the teeth of the teaser ,or by s match which had been dropped in the flax. The amount of damage done may be estimated as follows:—Building X LI2O, fl ix destroyed L2O, pair of seed rollers LlO, injury to the machinery LlO. About L2OO will cover the loss altogether, but as it is the intention, we believe, to put 4p only a temporary

building in the piece of that which had been burned, it is probable thai LIOO will pat everything in a workable condition again. AH the iron work of (he machinery escaped unhurt with the exception of a crack in the sid* of the Yankee icutcber, but 10s or 20s will make that as firm as ever. The place was entirely uninsured and therefore the company loses all that hat been lost. It is not true that the company decided not to insure this building. The fact is, the Insurance Companies refused to insure i| under any circumstances. It is not true also that operations will be suspended. The works are going on as usual.