FIRE AT WANGANUI.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 22 March 1913, Page 5

FIRE AT WANGANUI.

GILBERT* AND SONS' SOAPWORKS DESTROYED. {By Telegraph—Press Association.) WANGANUI, Last Night. Messrs Gilberd and Sons' soapwith the most up-to-date plant in New Zealand, and employing nineteen hands, was destroyed by fire las> night. From a spectators point of view the sight was a magnificent one. Though there was a bright moonlight, -the glare from the burning buildings, which are situated near Castlecliffe,' was seen for miles around, and a large crowd flocked to the scene. When the fire wa.s at its height there was a tremendous explosion of what is supposed to have been drums of perfume. To those at a long distance, the whole heavens seemed to be lit up, while tins of fat, soap and <U>bri.s were scattered in all directions. Among the spectators close around the fire, it is miraculous that no one was killed. Three firemen were thrown about twenty feet, but were uninjured. One tin of tallow weighing a couple of hundred weight narrowly missed hitting the fire engine, and a group of firemen. The public, becoming panic stricken, rushed .madly away to escape flying missiles, numbers of people falling The fire was first noticed by G. Wood, cock, an employee, and T. Scott, of Scott Bros., whose fellmongery adjoins the soap works. The brigade was summoned from town. A fire-engine was sent down ; but only a small pressure could bo obtained from an adjacent creek. The blaze fed by thirty casks of oil in the upper storey, and vats of fat and tallow, was tremendous. The brigade did remarkably well to save Scotts, and some of the stores adjoining. The fire is still burning and will do so for a couple of days yet. The outbreak is thought to have started in the top storey, behind one of the tallow vats, but how it is a mystery. Three hours before, when Mr Harry Gilberd went through the works all was appaently safe. By a strange coincidence, it is three years all but two days since the last fire, when the works were destroyed.

Although the insurances total £-1600, Messrs Gilberd Bros. say they Avill be heavy losers, owing to the amount of stock destroyed, which included nearly 70 tons of soap ready for shipment. The insurances on the stock and buildings are.—New Zealand Office £IOOO. South British £IOOO, Royal Exchanao £IOOO. Atlas £SOO, Roval £SOO, United £;«K), -Sun £3OO.