THE FLAXMILL FIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LVIII, Issue 9017, 17 March 1908, Page 5

THE FLAXMILL FIRE.

SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS

The fire at Roff aud Thompson's flaxmill on Friday was occasioned by a spark from oue of tho eugines which fell amoug the stripped fibre, spread out in the field to bleach. Mr Thompson, who first uoticed the fire, said he could have extinguished it with a bucket of water had oue been haudy. The mill is destroyed, aud oue of the engiues is damaged to tho value of about £50, the other being uuiujurod. During the burning of the mill, the hoso was kept playiug on the engiues which were thus preserved. Tho scutching machine is practically ruined, and six stacks of uuscutched flax were burned. There is no insurance, as the dangerously inflammable nature of the flax fibre daunts insurance offices. At the time of the fire Mr Rolf was iv Mastertou ou business ; aud he first knew of the trouble when, shortly after" his return home iv the evening, Mrs Roll, ou opeuiug the Daily Times, came upon a paragraph mentioning' it. Mr Thompson had previously sent a mossonger to Mr Rolf's residence at Lausdowue, but had considerately directed him not to give the ill news unless Mr Roff was at home. Mr Thompson had only very recoutly bought Mr Harry Nickless' interest iv tho business.