MILL DESTROYED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23896, 25 August 1939, Page 4

MILL DESTROYED

DAMAGE ABOUT £SOOO COMPANY'S SECOND LOSS (Per United Press Association) TAUMARUNUI, Aug. 24. .Fire at'l o’clock yesterday morning destroyed’ the Marton Sash and Door Company’s, timber; mill alongside the National Park railway station. Nothing could be done to check' the flames and the loss on the building and contents is estimated at between £4OOO and £SOOO. It is stated, however,’ that the major loss will result from the dislocation. of business, as the fire has occurred at a busy period. , , . • The fire was first noticed by a clerk at tiie National Park railway station and the structure was then burning fiercely. Owing to the total lack of water, except at the mill itself, nothing could be done, and the onlookers had to stand and watch the destruction of the building. When Constable Wilks, of National Park, arrived about 20 minutes later, the mill was practically a smoking ruin. . The mill was a comparatively small one, 10 men being employed in the building and another 10 in the bush. Employment will be found for some of these men in other branches of the company’s activities, but the remainder will be thrown out of employment. It was stated that the company would replace the mill as soon as possible on the same site, but it would be some months before the new structure could be completed. This is the second mill which the company has had the misfortune to lose recently, the other having been destroyed at Waione only six weeks ago.