DARGAVILLE - Big blaze won't destroy hopes

An inferno which razed their three buildings failed to put Ken Foster and his family out of business.
Mr Foster, his wife Elain and their sons Arron and Greg are battling on in a borrowed caravan on the fringe of the ruins of the shops destroyed by the big blaze in Dargaville's main street on January 5.
Their Resene Colorshop went up in flames, but trade customers can still order and collect paint at the caravan and the family plans to have a new paint store open by March 1.
Mr Foster said the Kaipara District Council had fast-tracked consents for the new building and construction was expected to begin next week.
More rebuilding is expected, but plans are a long way off being finalised. Building and stock insurance claims of more than $2 million are being assessed, using copies of daily business records kept off site.
In the meantime, the Dargaville community has rallied around the Foster family.
Fifteen volunteers have been helping with security duties at the site of the Victoria St fire during the day and members of the Exclusive Brethren Church keep vigil at night.
Local eateries are providing the volunteers with free meals.
"Baking, fruit, flowers, cards and letters have flowed in - it's been tremendous," Mr Foster said.
Arron, who managed the family's furniture store, said: ``Outsiders tend to rubbish places like Dargaville, but the good thing about a small community is that when times get tough, everybody pulls together.
"I have even had someone try to give me money.
"The help, compassion and sympathy has been awesome."
Contractors with a crane and teams of workmen were earlier this week close to completing their clean-up after the disastrous fire, which started in an electrical switchboard.
The footpath on the waterfront side of Victoria St had been opened on Wednesday night, but cordons remained in place on the street on Thursday.
Council official Fiona Vessey said clean-up work had progressed quicker than expected and she was optimistic the cordons might be removed much earlier than the expected three weeks.