DESTRUCTION OF A SAWMILL.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 46, 25 November 1882, Page 2

DESTRUCTION OF A SAWMILL.

The Cheltenham saw mills were destroyed by fire on Thursday last. The following are the particulars of the occurrence as nearly as can be obtained : — On the day preceding the fire Thomas Dorecn attended to the engine ; the men knocked off work a f 5 p.m., when everything appeared all safe; Doreen returned to the mill at 8 p.m., and put the damper on the engine furnaces. , A bailiff, who was in possession, was on watch until about 1 a.m., and up to this hour ob-sf-rr d no suspicious circumstances ; he then went to bed, leaving all safe. About 3 or 4 a.m. he was awakened by tho roaring of the engine, which he at first imagined to be a gale of wind in the forest surrounding. He then heard an alarm of fire, and on turning out with the mill hands, he found the mill in one mass of flames. A man was despatched at once to Feilding to inform the police. During the day Constable Price visited the scene, and on Friday he again proceeded to the spot, . accompanied by Detective Benjamin of Wanganui, and the agent for the New Zealand Insurance Company. A most careful examination was made, and the conclusion arrived at by the detective was that the fire was the result of accident only, either from a s park from the engine, or from some person throwing down a match when walking about the mill, which may have smouldered in the dry sawdust, until the breeze at night fanned it iuto flame. The .only thing now left of the mill is the boiler and some saws, to show where it once stood. No person had any motive in destroying the mill, and every one connected with it either as owner, lessee, or laborer, has suffered loss. The lessee had paid up all rent to date, he had no insurance on the mill or the sawn timber (value £60) destroyed. The engine was 12 horse power, under a shed with iron roof and studs, and worth considerably more than £600, the insurance on it. It will not be necessary for any enquiry to be held. Mr Munro is deeply smpathised with for his heavy loss.