FIRE AT MECHANICS' BAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15931, 31 May 1915, Page 5

FIRE AT MECHANICS' BAY.

OUTBREAK IN A SAWMILL.

DAMAGE -TO MACHINERY.

LOSS ESTIMATED AT £2000.

Fire broke out on Saturday afternoon in a building on the corner of King's Drive and Factory Street, Mechanics' Bay, {or- ' merly used as a sawmill by the ParkerLamb Timber Company, Ltd., and the major portion of the premises was gutted. A good deal of plant was in the building at the time, and it is estimated by one of the directors of the company that this plant was damaged to the extent if about £2000. It is doubtful whether it was insured.

The outbreak was discovered by Constable C. H. Gatward, a few minutes before 2 p.m. The City Fire Brigade, with two machines, under Superintendent Woolley and Wilson, and ».Va Parnell brigade, under Deputy-Superintendent Drew, were quickly on the scene, and soon had the outbreak in hand. The structure was a two-storeyed , one of wood and galvanised iron-. It had not been used as a. mill for some months. The building was one of several on the Mechanics' Bay reclamation area which have to be removed in order to make room for the new railway yards. Tho fire ( occurred in the northern side of the building facing the harbour, and about two-thiids of the building was destroyed, v Immediately . upon the arrival of the brigades five leads of hose were con- i centrated on the flames, and within a quarter of an hour lilso outbreak was got under. Some men "'.were, employed in the morning dismantling : the steam, engine, but the cause of*the fire is not' known. The wind was blowing towards the harbour, t and away, from adjacent premises. Had a northerly prevailed, it is possible that the • stock 'and buildings of Millar's West Australian Hardwoods .Company on the southern side. • would 1- have been ~ endangered. The structure ' damaged was ' owned " by, ' Messrs. Macklow-'Brof and was in*- ' sured for 5100 in the New Zealand Insiir-.i, ance Company., 'v-'f Is 3i. -• ,•• - Considerable loss by fire was sustained: by the . Parker-Lamb Timber:. Company, , Ltd., on March 23/1912, when their mill, «' machinery, and. stock,' then situated : in : v Customs Street West/ was destroyed, and damage V was: done to the extent of over £5000. . -; 0 v>. --