SAWMILL BURNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 270, 14 November 1928, Page 9

SAWMILL BURNED.

FIERCE BLAZE AT KOUTU. GENERAL STORE DESTROYED. BRIGADE PREVENTS OTHER DAMAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) ROTORUA, this day. Messrs. Lee Brothers' sawmill and general store at Koutu were burned to the ground early this morning, and a house was half destroyed.

When the alarm was given the mill was a mass of dames, which were sweeping over the main Ngongotaha-Rotorua highway. The premises were outside the borough area, and 1500 ft from the Utuhina stream. The brigade's powerful engine was stationed at the crown of the bridge, and with a good-pres-sure of water the firemen held the flames back. A fierce wind swept the fire through stacks of timber, and threatened the whole area, but the brigade stopped the flames when they were half-way across the dwelling. Three rooms were left intact, while the rest were reduced to ashes.

The mill and timber, covering threequarters of an acre, are now in smouldering ruins. The total loss is estimated at £6000, which is partly covered by insurances.