SPECTACULAR FIRE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11325, 1 October 1930, Page 7

SPECTACULAR FIRE

HISTORIC FLOURMILL DESTROYED

GISBORNE RESIDENT LOSES AIOTOR-CAR PATTERN b

(Press Association.) BLENHEIAT, Sept. 30. One of the most spectacular conflagrations seen in this district foi roars occurred when an old hourniill at Spring Creek owned by Airs Fred Redwood was totally destroyed bv fire, along with a valuable waterdriven electric lighting plant, iue ;miil a big tall wooden structure, was situated near Airs Redwood s homestead on the banks of Spring Creek, and a' few hundred yards from the township. It was first established some sixty years agin and was one of the first flourmills m Marlborough. As the years -passed and its structure was improved and enlarged, it became a well-known landmark. This morning it is only a heap of ashes, twisted iron and machinery, tho fire having made' an absolutely clean sweep. Tlio mill was started as a stone mill, but about forty-five years ago it was converted into a- roller null, and was capable of producing five bags of Hour per hour, tho niaclunerv being driven by a huge waterwheel with a generator of some M horsepower. Since the death or Mr Redwood some eleven or twehe Years ago the mill has been idle out the machinery liad not been dismantl'd. The building' itself, though affected by decay to a certain extent-, lias always been noted for its immensely 'strong construction, the great totara beams and uprights being timbers of a class rarely seen in these days. ( • There' is no evidence as to how the tiro began. Airs Redwood, returning from town about T0.30' o clock passid right beside the mill in driving into the homestead, and noticed nothing amiss, but about a quarter of an Lour later Air lSferfc Qumtrell who is employed oil the property, discovered the flames just threatening through tho roof as lie was walking from the homestead to his wlmre across .the road. The mill was insured for ’£7oo and the machinery, rallied'by the'owner at £3OOO, was insured for £'looo. both amounts being in tho Northern Office.

So far as is known the domestic electric lighting plant was uninsured. At about 11 p.m.. when-thi> fire Was at its height, the electric power lines which pass within half a chain of tho mill wore burned through. This resulted in the automatic saletv switches _ being brought into operation right up to the headworks at- WaiJiopai. and the whole area served by the scheme was plunged into darkness. Apart from the mill machinery, the only contents' of the 'building wero a" quantity of motor-car builders' patterns and tools belonging to Air W. Birc-h, a former Blenheim garago proprietor, who is now resident in Gishorne;. Air Birc-h stored this property in tho .deserted mill some years ago, and it- vs-not--known if it'*is insured.