RATANUI

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 39

RATANUI

July 29.—The weather, since my. last, has been rather broken'—storms from the southwest and frost, and then wind from the east, then a night of gentle rain, and now frosty nights with bright,, sunny days. j.nere has not been so much rain as in previous years, yet we can do with, just such weather, and our sympathies are with, these in the-drought-stricken districts. Roads.—The easterly winds dried up our roads, and in some places the roads were inclined to be dusty, but just when they were dry down came ths rain, fallowed by frosts, and we are still dragging through the mud with the hope that, as the days get longer, the sun will get moire on the roads and dry them up. Fire.—A destructive fire took place early on Friday morning. 26st inst., when Dawson and M.'Kechnie's sawmill w«s. burned, to the ground. Nearly all the employees were, present, and worked like Trojans. Fortunately there was; a good supply of water, and. a bucket brigade was at once instituted*. The only things .saved were- the engine, boileay andT planer. It will' be hard on "the firm to make up their supply of tools, which were valued at £50. Many were highly prised,, and- are scarce. The whole of the belting and nearly all the sawa were destroyed-, .also one planer and the many machines neceaary to the running of an up-to-date mill. If any of the m&a deserved special mention it was Mr R. Chalmers, who discovered the fire and, gave the alarm. A heated bearing is blamed for starting the fire. There was no insurance, an* the- loss will fall very heavily on Dawson and M'Kechnie.