DESTROYED BY FIRE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 61, 10 April 1946, Page 5

DESTROYED BY FIRE

TE WHAITI TIMBER MILLS SERIOUS PRODUCTION LOSS Fire destroyed the mill of Wilson Timber Mills, Ltd., at Te Whaiti, on Saturday. When the fire started in the boiler room the night watchman sounded the mill whistle. The mill employees, who live over a mile away, quickly responded, and a trailer pump to draw water from the Whirinaki River was brought into operation, but the utmost that could be done was the saving of the plaper shed and the v garage.

The mill was one of the largest in the North Island, and was cutting about 20,000 superficial feet of native timber daily. Wilson’s Timber, Ltd., is a subsidiary of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., and suplied timber for containers for the parent company’s products. The mill has been in existence eight years. Six benches have been put out of action, and the loss of production is a serious matter for the whole of the North Island. About 70 men were employed at the mill. Two years ago the mill was partially destroyed by flood waters from the Whirinaki River, and last month it narrowly escaped damage from bush fires which surrounded it.

A director of the company, Mr F. O. R. Phillips, of Otorohanga, stated that the cost of establishing another mill would be about £40,000, and probably a smaller mill would be set up. The undamaged planer plant would be operated, and work would also be available for about 20 men in preparing for future operations. Other employees would be temporarily absorbed in the Works Department. The directors would make a decision as soon as possible, in order that the least inconvenience should be suffered by the employees. The mill was covered by a policy at Lloyd’s.

Mr R. H. Burt, the manager of the mill, said the fire had had repercussions at the State Mill at Whakarewarewa, as that concern had been supplying logs to the Te Whaiti mill.