FIRE DESTROYS TIMBER MILL.

Western Star, 7 March 1939, Page 3

FIRE DESTROYS TIMBER MILL.

BUILDINGS COVER MORE THAN AN ACRE.

16 FERSONS INJURED

IN DISASTER,

AUCKLAND, March 6. After immunity from fire. loss .for 60 rears D. Goldie and Sons' timber mill, St Mary's Bay, Western Waterfront, including buildings covering more thai an acre, was destroyed by fire oaviy last evening. Within 15 minutes a discovery the whole area was an ..> firemen's efforts were concentrated on preventing it spreading to adjoining boat-building yards and neighbouring bulk oil stores. Flames spread to the waterfront and several yachK and launches Avere destroyed. Only the shell remains of the Victoria Cnming Club pavilion and club membc-s worked frantically to remove snuta C ™he damage is estimated to be at least £lO 000. The insurance is about *,^JSixteen persons were injured, including several firemen, eight being sent to hospital in ambulances. Eight persons, including five firemen, were treated on the spot. Ambulance workers we summoned from all parte of the c. y and a station was established, near He firo Avith a hospital doctor in attendanco None of -the hospital patterns wis in a serious condition today. Those admitted to hospital were:—

Robert Matthew WigmOre, • fireman, severo burns to the hands.

Eric Bright, fireman, bums to f:e hands.

James O'Sullivan, n.otor-d.iver, vuecommodore of the Victoria Cruss..!* CLub, shock.

Constable Douglas, and George K'l gour, aged 21, single, slight shock.

Kilgour was discharged today. He heroically rescued O'Sullivan from the Victoria Cruising Club building, while he and other club members were .valiantly endeavouring to save the cluu records. Club officials were tidying up the building after a picnio when the fire, was discovered. Learning that a man was in danger Kilgour, without witting for firemen to douse his clothing, rushed across the burning ramp, entered the first door of the burning budding and dragged O'Sullivan cut of the committee room. Kilgour formerly lived in Palmerston North. A remarkable feature of the fire was the amazing flow of traffic. A heavy column of black smoke Allowed by fierce flames leaping 100 feet into the air informed citizens of the most spectacular fire for some years. While a cordon of police held thousands of spectators, 30 firemen waged a three hours' battle against _ the flames before the mastery was gained. A boiler engineer, Mr D. W. Evans, found all well at 6.30, but an hour latediscovered an incipient fire smouldering in loose shavings beneath a hopper at the back "of the mill office. He sprinted in a few seconds to a street fire alarm but, almost before he had broken the glass in. the alarm box, flames were leaping high into the air and within a minute or two a third ol the mill was enveloped in flames. Mr Evans told an interviewer today that he chased a gang of boys, aged 10 to 12 years, out of Goldie's timber yard about 6.30. At the time ho saw twomen, wh 0 are alleged to be methylated spirits addicts, emerge from the gate leading to the timber yard further down tho road. He found that the office window was broken and tho office reduced to a shambles. When he passed tho approximately an hour later, he saw a burst of smoke directly behind tho oflico and fire bursting from a pile of shavings which was as high as a house. A huge sheet of flame shot up to the height of the office, so ho rushed to the street fire alarm.

Fanned by a north-west breeze the fii'o spread to stacks of dry timber and when four fire engines arrived flames were rising from almost every section. For tho first quarter of an hour the firemen endeavoured to prevent the flames spreading to the yards of Shipbuilders, Ltd., on the northern side and protecting the bulk store of tho Vacuum Oil Company Proprietary, Ltd.. on the opposite side of Pool's street. The main danger point was the Vacuum Oil stores. ■ When the firemen arrived smoko was rising from the roof. They immediately hosed the building and clouds of steam arose and when an inspection was made the oil inside the store was found to be warm. They gave immediate attention an<\ probably saved a still .greater disaster.

o} GONE WITH THE WIND. u , A man wrote to a Now York departnJ merit store to order a new barometer, ii and when it arrived ho unpacked it and L . discovered that the instrument was set at 'Hurricane.' s He tapped it. and it did noL budge. ; t Ho hung it up on the wall, tapped it I again, arrd still it did not budge. Very angry, he sat down at his typewriter and wi'ote a nasty note to the store and then went out to post it. When lie came back his house as well as the now barometer had. been blown ' away. r _