OLD LANDMARK DESTROYED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21145, 1 October 1930, Page 6

OLD LANDMARK DESTROYED.

BLAZE'IN FLOUR MILL. (Peb United Press Association.) BLENHEIM, September 30. One of the most spectacular conflagrations seen in this district for years occurred when' the old flour mill at Spring Creek, owned by Mrs Fred RedWoods, was totally destroyed by fire along with a valuable water-driven electric lighting plant. The mill, a big, tall wooden structure, was situated hear Redwoods’ homestead on the banks of Spring Creek, and a few hundred yards from the township. It was first established some 60 years ago, and was one of the first flour’ mills in Marlborough. As the years passed, and the structure ■was improved and enlarged, it became n well-known' landmark. This morning it is only a heap of ashes, twisted iron and machinery, the fire having made an absolutely clean sweep. The mill started life as a stone mill but about 45 years ago it was converted into a roller mill and was capable of producing five bags per hour, the machinery being driven by a huge waterwheel generating some 50 horse-power. Since the death of Mr Redwoods, some 11 or 12 years ago, the mill had been idle, but the machinery had not been dismantled. The building itself, though affected by decay to a certain extent, was always noted for its immensely strong construction, . the great totara beams and uprights being timbers of a class rarely seen these days. There is no evidence as to how the fire began, Mrs Redwoods returned from town about 10.30 o’clock and passed right beside the mill in driving into the homestead. She, noticed nothing amiss, but about a quarter of an ’hour later Mr Bert Quintrell, who is employed on the property, discovered flames just breaking through the roof as he was walking from the homestead to Ins whare across the road. The mill'was insured for £7OO, and the machinery, valued by the owner at £3OOO, was covered for £IOOO, both amounts being in the Northern'office. So far as is known, the domestic electric lighting plant was uninsured. At about 11 p.mi, when the fire was at its height, the electric power lines which pass within half a chain of the mill were burned through. This resulted in the automatic safety switches being brought into operation right up to the head works at Waihopai, and the whole area served by the scheme was plunged into darkness. Apart from the mill machinery, the v only contents of the building was a quantity of motor car builders’ patterns and tools belonging to Mr W. Birch, a former Blenheim garage proprietor, who is now resident in Gisborne. Mr Birch stored this property in the deserted mill some years ago, and it is not known if it was insured.