BIG FIRE AT TIMARU.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12404, 20 November 1908, Page 3

BIG FIRE AT TIMARU.

A SAWMILL DESTKOYED. ' I, United Pbess Association.! Timaru, Nov. 19. Jackson and Company's timber sawmill, the largest in Timaru, was almost completely destroyed by fire this mirnirjg. Several people passed t'je mill. Which is 00 the main street, between 5 and 5.30, and saw no signs of fire : but about 5.30.a railway man on hia.way to work noticad smoke issuicg frpra. the central portion of ttie building, which is ( two stories high,: mßiDly : of brick' and iron, and.; a considorable area..of. of wooden walls and flooring, while within was a heavy stock of timber mi vaiious stages of manufacture. A few minutes after the alarm was given tremendous volumes of smoko and .flames burst out. from", every part of the mill, and within a quarter of ab hour the entire structure was a blazing furnace. Hy six o'clock toe roof and upper walls bad j fallen in, and • so tierce had the flames been that very little remained. l , 1 Up till this point tnere was almost a dead calm,, when a strong breeze sprang up and the fire had so far exnended itself that there was no difficulty in preventing its spread beyond the mill. ■■■ The stacks of timber all round the main buildings are unharmed, and the stock and the. machinery of the wheelwright and bending department are very little damaged. The greatest precautions had 'always been exercised for the prevention if fire, and it seems mosfc'probable that the outreak originated in the eDgine room. The "business had been purchased by the present owner a quarter of a century ago, ana it has been extended during that neriod inio one of the most flourishing in tho distriot. The extent of the destruction is estimatad a £6000. The insurances are :— Commercial Union, £2000. Tha destruction of the central factory mßans the disorganisation of the whole- business; but preparations have been commenced for an immediate resumption of work.