WAIONE MILL BURNED

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4817, 31 July 1939, Page 5

WAIONE MILL BURNED

SATURDAY MORNING BLAZE.

TWENTY MEN IDLE. Damage of between £SOOO and £6OOO was done by fire which broke out on Saturday morning in the Waione mill of the Marton Sash, Door and Timber Company. Both the large wood and iron mill building and about 20,000 ft of dressed timber were destroyed. The mill employed about 20 men, the majority of whom have been thrown out of work. A few may be transferred to other mills owned by the company.

When the fire was discovered, it already had such a hold that it was uncontrollable. The nearest fire brigade was at Taumarunui, and there was no water supply available. The alarm was given by an engine driver, Mr. J. McDougall. When he arrived at the mill at about 5.45 a.m. to get steam up in his engine, he found flames beginning to break through the roof. Within a few minutes the entire building was ablaze. The flames gained in intensity as more of the inflammable material inside caught alight, and workmen who answered the alarm were forced to stand by and watch the fire burn itself out, the building being reduced to ruins. ■»

The Taumarunui manager for the company, Mr. L. R. Pulham, said that the building was insured. He did not know, however, what was the amount.