THE FIRE AT HARTLEYS MILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8538, 11 April 1891, Page 5

THE FIRE AT HARTLEYS MILL.

Our Kohukohu correspondent, writing on the 7th instant, gives the following particulars of this event:—

During the night of April 2nd a fire occurred at Mr. Hartley's mill, situated at Wairiri, "a few miles from here. The mill had been worked as usual during the day, and Mr. Hartley and the employees retired to rest, leaving everything apparently safe. Some time afterwards one of the men saw a glare of firelight through the window of the room he was in, which gave him the impression that somo part of the building was on fire. Ho at once gave the alarm, and Mr. Hartley, his son, and several others rushed out to the burning building with only their shirts on, and set to work with the appliances ready to hand to stop the progress of the .flames, which had considerable hold on the building in which the boiler and engine were situated. Being joined by the rest of the employees, this brought the entire strength of the force up to fifteen, small enough to do buttle with such an enemy in so favourable a place. The result of their well-organised and laborious task shoe's what a comparatively small number of determined men can do when put to the test. The fire was kept under such control that it was confined to the building where it had originated, and in less than two hours was entirely subdued. It was a wonder that the whole of the buildings were nob destroyed, as that portion where the tire occurred was only a few feet from the main building, where the saws were worked. Originally the mill was worked by water-power, and it was only at the beginning of this year that the boiler and engine were set up in the new building. Mr. Hartley had worked with tho steampower six weeks, everything working satisfactorily up to last Thursday. The cause of the fire is thought to have been the crumbling away of some of the cement between the brickwork, whereby some sparks found their way to one of the wood-binders on the outside of the brickwork. This block was found to have been burned through to where a partition of woodwork joined it. This becoming ignited, the flames spread upwards, and got hold of the building. Mr. Hartley does nob yet know the extent of damage done. The property is covered by insurance, which will probably cover the loss by damage. I understand that Mr. Hartley intends to again utilise the water power for working the mill until the, steam machinery can be put into going order.