WAIOURU FIRE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1940, Page 6

WAIOURU FIRE

DESTRUCTION OF MESS BUILDING NO WATER SUPPLY AVAILABLE. POLICE INVESTIGATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The messroom at Waiouru which has been destroyed by fire was built to accommodate about 800 men. It was on the outskirts of the camp on the eastern side, and was one of the buildings furthest away from the parade ground, which is in the centre of the original camp built last year. The building was about 250 yards distant from the parade ground. The original camp was supplied with a fire-fighting service and high-pressure water supply. This service has not been extended into the area where the new messroom was built. At the present time the water and sewerage services are being extended as the building programme proceeds. Much of the equipment, including boilers, had been installed in the hew messroom.

An investigation into the fire is being made by Detective J. Murray (Wanganui) and Constables S. H. Cave and C. Stewart (Ohakune). An armed guard was placed on the camp last night. The building, which, with its equipment, cost over £B,OOO, was constructed to design with a concrete floor and was nearly finished. It was one of the largest buildings in the camp. It had been built of timber which had only just been seasoned. When workmen on the building ceased work on Tuesday night, everything was in order. A red glow shortly after midnight indicated that the building was alight. All the men in camp—nearly I.ooo—turned out, but because of the lack of water it was impossible to save the building.

ANOTHER MESSROOM AMPLE TIME TO REPLACE BUILDING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Contractors will soon build another messroom, said the chief engineer of the Public Works Department. Mr J. Wood commenting this morning on the fire at Waiouru military camp. He said the building, a large wooden one built to accommodate 700 or 800 men, cost approximately £7OOO. Fortunately the kitchen equipment had not been installed. Apart from that the building was practically ready for use. When workmen left the building on Monday night everything was in order. The fire evidently broke out late at night. The building had been erected about three weeks and as. the contractors had to have everything ready by the end of September for the beginning of training of Territorials in October, there was ample time to replace it. The destroyed building was insured by the contractors.