FIRES

Evening Star, Issue 18158, 26 December 1922, Page 1

FIRES

SAW-MILL DESTROYED. FIREMEN’S DESPERATE FIGHT. A disastrous fire occurred at Napier on Saturday afternoon, when Messrs Robert Holt and -Sons’ large saw-mill was complbtcly destroyed apd a quantity of timber stocked about the yard was burned and considerably damaged. No estimate has been mads of the loss, but it will run into many thousands of pounds. The whole of the Valuable machineij has been rendeied quite useless. Fanned by a strong easterly wind, the flames soon enveloped the whole factory, in spite of the efforts of the firemen, who faced the task of preventing what seemed an almost inevitable spread- of fire through a whole blbck of wooden houses with commendable fortitude, suffering all the time about the face and hands through the terrifio heat. When' the large building was one mass of consuming Are, just before the roof fell, the spectacle presented by dense volumes .of smoko and flames was magnificent and terrible, and tho chance of saving tho block—-and perhaps two or throe blocks—seemed remote indeed; but against odds tho brigadesmen struggled, and in two hours had the fire under control, though its complete extinction necessitated work tkrougnout tho whole night. One cottage was destroyed, and the backyard fences and sheds were damaged. Otherwise tho fire was confined to tho mill and yard. Tho insurances are not ascertainable, but it is known they are small and Uiat the loss to the firm will be very considerable. Many workmen lost complete kite of valuable toote. Tho staff of about 7.00 will probably all be found employment! again by the' firm, whose activities are not limited (o this mill alone. Tho fire started in a shavings hopper (how it is not known), and the fact that this was -situated towards tho eastern end of -the building made tho task of the strong wind from that (Jbcction in spreading it a light one. The shavings and dry timber burned with amazing rapidity, and the efforts ol the men working at "the time of tho outbreak were in vain. The firo brigade was early on tho scene with two leads, but from the start the mill •was doomed. LARGE RESIDENCE AT FEXDALTON. A Christchurch' Association message state that a ten-roomed 'house owned and occupied by Mr R. T. Watkins, in Bnmdwyr road, Fendalton, was destroyedi by fire at 3 a.m. on Monday. Mr Watkins and his family were absent from home. The house an<J contents wore valued at. £4,000; Hie house was insured for £2,000, and -the furniture for £I,OOO. A message from Auckland state j A fire occurred late on Saturday night, resulting in tho destruction of n ten-roomed residence, tho property of Mr T. Hollywood, of Onehunga. Tho occupants were out at the time. In addition, u i impcrled Belgian motor cax, valued at £I,OOO, was burned.. The house and contents were valued' at £5,000.