SERIOUS TIMBER MILL FIRE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 52, 24 November 1928, Page 10

SERIOUS TIMBER MILL FIRE

MOKAI OVERTAKEN BY _ DISASTER INHABITANTS THROWN OUTOF WORK Dominion Special Service. ' Auckland, November 23. The Taupo Totara Timber Company’s mill at Mokai, 52 miles from Putaruru, was destroyed by lire this morning. It was the largest operating totara “mill in the Dominion and its destruction is nothing- less than disaster to. the scat-. tered settlement of Mokai, every one. of whose inhabitants is dependent on it for a livelihood. About. 150 men may be thrown out of work, and the. estimated damage is £25,000. At mid-day to-day it was reported that the danger was not past, for if the wind changed it was probable that a smaller mill and other buildings would.catch fire. A night watchman is employed by the company and it has been his custom to do a round of the village and mill at regular intervals during the night. He had passed the mill about a quarter of an hour before the outbreak, and apparently all was well. As he approached the mill again shortly after 5.30 a.m. it suddenly burst into flame along its whole length of 80 feet. The watchman and an engine driver, who was getting up steam on one of the locomotives, were the only persons astir, but the village was quickly aroused and a bucket brigade was formed. It devoted its efforts to preventing -the flames from spreading to the smaller mill and office which was.about 40 yards away.

Water fc ‘ fire-fighting purposes was laid on to the mills- from big storage tanks, but the heat was so terrific that it was impossible to get ne,ar. jt during the. first half-hour. ' ■ Sparks set alight several new. wagons laden with sawn timber, and these and their contents, were destroyed; The mill was full. of ..valuable ..machinery, which it is feared has been very seriously damaged, if not ruined. Late this morning the’ heat was so great that it was still impossible to approach close, to the destroyed mill, and the. full'-extent of the damage will not be ascertained for" soihe days. It is anticipated, however, that it will be about £25,000. . The. only insurance, as far as it is known at present is one of £B5OO in the New Zealand office. The small mill and the majority of other buildings were saved. Tn’the mill itself 25 men were 'employed, while 25 were engaged on the - companv’s railway, and approximately 100 in the bush. Almost the whole staff wilbbe affected for some- time. ■ •