SAWMILL DESTROYED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1928, Page 3

SAWMILL DESTROYED

SPECTACULAR BLAZE,

BUCKET BRIGADE’S UNEQUAL

BATTLE

AUCKLAND. Nov. 23

The Taupo ' Totara Tindior Company's mill at .Mokai. 52 miles from Putarurii. was destroyed by lire this morning. It was the largest operating totara mill in the Dominion, and its destruction is nothing less than a disaster to the scattered settlement of Mokai. cvei’v one of whose inhabitants is dependent on it for a livelihood. About lot) man may he thrown out of work.

It is estimated that the damage is .325.000.

At midday to-day it was reported that the danger was not past, for if lie wind changed it was probable that Hie smaller mill and other buildings would catch fire. A nightwatchnmn is employed by the company, and it has been his custom to do a round of the village and the mil! at regular intervals during the night. He had oassed the mill about a quarter ol an hour before flic outbreak, and apparently all was well. As lie approached the ■••■ I! again sliortlv alter 0,30. il mddoniy hurst into flame along its vhole length of 80 loot. The watchnan and an -engine-driver, who was rolling up steam on one ol the Ineonotives, were the only persons astir, hut the village was quickly aroused, md a bucket brigade was formed. II levoted its efforts to .preventing the lames from spreading lo the smaller nil! and the office, which was about If) yards away. Water for lire light log niirnoses was laid on to the mills from big storage tanks, hut the Itca 1 was so terrific that it was impossible to get near it during tile first lialf-

Ha.lf way between the mill and the office was a wooden building where 150 gallons of petrol and 10 barrels of oil were stored. By frantic efforts the petrol was removed before the building caught lire, hut the barrels ol oil had <•:i■ ’<l• t fire, and had to he sacrificed. They added greatly to the spectacular effect of an already spectacular blaze. Sparks set lire to : Several new wag-

spoils hide'll with sawn timber, and these and their contents were destroyed.

The lire crept slowly alone; towards the stands, on which were lying about 1.000,000 feet of timber, in logs. Some of the logs ‘were ignited, but the bucket brigade managed to save the structure and the logs from serious damage.

The mill was full of valuable machinery, which, it is tea red, has been very seriously immured. if not ruined. Late this morning the heat as so great that it was still imnossible ajmroa'b close to the destroyed mill, and the full extent of the damage will not be ascertained for some days. Tt is anticipated, however, that it will be about £25.000.

The only insurance, so far as it is known at present, is one of £BSOO in the Now Zealand Office. 'I he small mills and the majority of the other buildings were saved. In the mill itself 25 men were employed. while 25 were engaged on the company’s railway and approximately 100 in the bush.

Almost the whole staff will be affect Of I for some time. Of late the mill lias been working only four davs a week, and the men knocked off on Thursday afternoon for a week. Whoflier fires were left in (lie boilers or not is not known, but even if ilmv were it is not considered that the 1i1a 7.0- would originate there. The cause of flu* outbreak is a mysteiy. which pcoule of the village to-day scorned to think roipiiros investigation.