A SAWMILL-BURNT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 222, 19 September 1893, Page 5

A SAWMILL-BURNT.

DESTRUCTION OF THE TATARA

RIKI MILL,

Tee Dargaville paper gives the following account of the destruction by fire of tho I'atarariki Sawmill, Kaipara, on the Bth instant:—

" On Tuesday night last this fine mill waa completely destroyed by fire. Owing to the strong northerly gale blowing at the time, the attempts to save it were futile, and half an hour after the firo was noticed the mill ■ was in ashes. Captain Brown, of the schooner Coquette, which is loading timbor ab tho mill wharf, was tho first to notice tho fire about 11 o'clock, which, he said, was ab tho north end of the mill under tho flooring of the circular saw. Heimmediately gave tho alarm and the ship's crew, millhands and others turned out. Ib v.'aa coon found useless to attempt to savo tho mill, and attention waa paid to tho stock, which was, with the oxception of a low hundred feet of timber, saved by the gallant efforts made by tho men. Tho origin of the firo is unknown, but it is surmised to have happened as follows :—At the tail end of the circular saw there was an oil lamp, which was lib, the men working overtime, and a sDark may havo fallen from tho lamp on to some chaff, a number of baes of which, with some oats, wero temporarily stored, by Mr T, \Y. Slater, immediately under tho circular. Tho spark may havo smouldered some hours amongst tho chad', until it was fanned into a blaze by the strong wind that was blowing. Almost adjoining the chaff was tho oil and kerosene Btore, which would havo Boon, caught and given tho firo a cood hold. The mill was erected by Mr F. W, Matthews and commenced cutting in May, 1389. The cost of the mil! was £3,200. It was insured in tho New Zealand office for £1,000. Mr Matthews is therefore a loser by £2,200. Ib is most probable that the mill will be rebuilt immediately.