TIMBER MILL FIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 302, 22 December 1939, Page 8

TIMBER MILL FIRE

THREE THOUSANDS POUNDS AUCKLAND LOSS FIFTY FIREMEN FIGHT THE FLAMES [ Per Press Association | AUCKLAND, Dec. 21. I Five engines and 50 firemen fought Ila blaze which totally destroyed the dressing and recutting mill of the ■ Kauri Timber Company at Mt. Eden ; early to-day. ■ The fire was a spectacular one and 10,000 feel, of limber valued at £lOOO I was destroyed. Timber valued al I £12,000, most for Government orders, ; mas saved as the result of efforts of I the firefighters. The fact that there was no wind when the lire was dis1 covered at 3.30 a.m. prevented a large ! scale loss. I Immediately adjoining the mill is (the shot lower of the Colonial Ammunion Company and the timber kiln jot Henderson and Pollard, where | massave piles of dry timber are I stacked. At one stage the intense ■ heat caused a portion of the timber 110 ignite but the outbreak was quickly got under control. The paint- | work of the shot tower was scorched, i When the brigades arrived the mill I was a blazing inferno and it was realised that it would be impossible to . save either the mill or the timber stacked in the immediate vicinity. The tiremen therefore concentrated their efforts in savin;; other timber lend neighbouring I: Hidings. The | mill, machinery, and limber affected , were insured for £3300 in the New 1 Zealand Insurance Company.