FIRE AT RICHMOND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1878, Page 2

FIRE AT RICHMOND.

We regret to state that Mr Croucher'a flour mill at Richmond was completely destroyed by fire last night. The particulars, so far as we can ascertain, are as follows: — Mr Charles Martin, who was riding towards Stoke from Richmond between ten and eleven o'clock, saw, as he was turning the corner just above the Plough lnu, flames breaking out at the hack part of the mill premises where the chaff-cutting is done, and at once galloped back and gave the alarm. The neighbors mustered in force, and willingly rendered such assistance as was iv their power, but their efforts to subdue the flames were perfectly futile, owing to the difliculty of procuring a sufficient supply of water, three of the wells in the immediate neighborhood of the blazing building, which were laid under contribution, being very speedily emptied without producing any perceptible result. While some were engaged iv trying to extinguish the flames, others set to work to

remove the contents of the mill, and we are glad to learn thafc a large quantity of wheat and flour were thus saved. The origin of the fire is, as usual in such cases, unexplainable. We understand thafc for two days steam had not been up, Mr Croucher having been engaged in dressing the stones and Upon other work that did nofc require the fires to be lighted. The building and machinery were insured in the New Zealaud oflice for £400, bufc this will not nearly cover Mr Croucher's loss. Great sympathy is expressed for bim in his misfortune, for he is an industrious, energetic man, and well doserving of the success that he had hitherto achieved. * ' ' "